20 killed, 53 injured in blast in Pakistan’s Quetta

20 killed, 53 injured in blast in Pakistan’s Quetta that occurred on Saturday morning.

At least 20 individuals lost their lives, and 53 others sustained injuries in an explosion at a railway station in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Saturday morning, according to the chief executive officer of Pakistan Railways.

The incident occurred around 8:20 a.m. local time on Platform No. 1 of Quetta’s railway station, as the Jaffar Express was preparing for departure, a statement from the railways indicated.

Military sources based in Quetta revealed that the attack was aimed at soldiers returning home to other provinces after completing a training course in Quetta.

According to the sources, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest in a crowd exceeding 100 people, comprising soldiers, railway police officers, and civilian travelers.

Railway officials reported that the Jaffar Express was not damaged during the explosion and has been rescheduled for travel.

Muhammad Zeeshan, operations manager for the Edhi Foundation’s rescue team in Quetta, informed Xinhua that among the injured were two railway police personnel, and a woman was counted among the deceased.

He also noted that both military personnel and civilians were among the casualties, as they were boarding the train destined for Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The banned Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack through a press release shared with various media outlets and on social media.

Police, security personnel, and rescue teams quickly arrived at the scene, transporting the injured and deceased to a hospital.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan denounced the attack and instructed hospital officials to ensure top-quality medical care for the injured.