Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
A suicide bombing at a Pakistan railway station has killed at least 24 people and injured more than 40.
22 innocent people died in the Quetta Railway Station suicide blast but not a single word of condemnation from Mahrang Baloch or BYC which increasingly behave as the apologists and political face of BLA. The state must act swiftly against terrorists and their facilitators. pic.twitter.com/1jkPa3oDeG
— Hamza Azhar Salam (@HamzaAzhrSalam) November 9, 2024
What’s the deal: According to Pakistani authorities, the explosion at the Quetta Railway Station in the southwestern province of Balochistan occurred as passengers were gathering on the platform to board the Peshawar-bound “Jaffar Express.” Preliminary investigations suggest the attacker may have entered the station disguised as a passenger. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, condemned the terror attack, vowing to hold those accountable. He added that the Pakistani government was determined to eliminate “the menace of terrorism” in the country.
Who’s behind the attack and why: The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a banned separatist group, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, targeting army personnel and civilians alike. The BLA, one of many insurgent groups in Balochistan, has been seeking independence for the province, arguing that the Pakistani government exploits the region’s rich natural resources, including gas and minerals, while neglecting the local population’s economic and political needs.
In the past year, the BLA has conducted numerous violent attacks, primarily targeting government forces, infrastructure, and Chinese nationals involved in regional development projects, which the group views as an encroachment on their land.
