At least 22 people were killed and several others wounded in a blast at the main train station in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province in southwestern Pakistan, on Saturday morning, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

 

The explosion, which took place during peak hours, was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group that has long targeted both Pakistani forces and civilians in the region.

 

The local government spokesperson confirmed that the death toll had risen to 22, including a woman, with officials warning that the number could climb further as more victims were brought in. Initially, police had reported 17 fatalities, but the figures were revised after hospital officials announced that more bodies and injured individuals were still being received.

 

The blast occurred around 8:45 AM at the central train station, a key transit hub in the region. Local authorities said that the explosion targeted a Pakistani military unit that had just completed training at an infantry institute and was on its way back to Punjab.

 

In a statement, the BLA took responsibility for the attack, claiming it had specifically aimed at the military personnel.

 

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, has been the focal point of an ongoing separatist movement demanding greater autonomy. Despite its vast natural resources, including gas and minerals, Balochistan remains one of the country’s poorest regions.

 

In recent years, the BLA and other separatist factions have escalated their attacks, primarily targeting security forces, Pakistanis from other provinces, and foreign companies, particularly Chinese firms, accusing them of exploiting the region's resources without benefiting the local population.

 

The explosion on Saturday adds to a growing list of violent incidents in Balochistan, where separatists have regularly carried out attacks on both local and foreign targets. In August, the BLA claimed responsibility for a devastating coordinated assault that killed at least 39 people, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent years.