At least 24 people were killed and more than 40 injured on Saturday when a bomb exploded at a railway station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan. the police and other authorities reported.
Pakistan is facing increased attacks by ethnic separatist militants in the southern province of Balochistan and Islamist militants in the northwest.
A decades-long insurgency has destabilized Balochistan and created security problems for projects trying to access the province’s untapped resources.
Balochistan Inspector General of Police Mouzzam Jah Ansari stated that So far 24 people have died due to the explosion at the railway station, which is usually very busy early in the day.
“The objective was Army personnel from the Infantry School”he said, and many of the injured are in critical condition.
ELB confirmed its responsibility for the attack
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. The ELB seeks the independence of Balochistan, a province of about 15 million inhabitants that borders Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west. The ELB is the largest of several insurgent groups fighting the government, alleging that it unfairly exploits the province’s rich mineral and gas resources.
“So far, 44 injured people have been transferred to the civil hospital,” Dr. Wasim Baig, a hospital spokesman, told Reuters.
Senior Superintendent of Police Operations Muhammad Baloch said the explosion appeared to be a suicide attack and an investigation was underway to obtain more information.
“The explosion took place inside the railway station when the Peshawar-bound express was about to leave for its destination.”Baloch declared.
In August, at least 73 people were killed in Balochistan province after separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines and roads.
The August assaults were the most widespread in years by militants fighting a decades-long insurgency to secure the secession of the resource-rich southwestern province, home to major Chinese-led projects such as a port and a gold mine. and copper.
Source: Ambito
