Islam Times - At Least 21 Killed in Pakistan Train Station Blast

Islam Times - A powerful explosion at a train station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, has killed at least 21 people and injured 30 others, according to police.

The separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, according to the CNN.

The blast occurred around 9 a.m. on Friday at a crowded platform in Quetta’s main train station, Senior Superintendent Muhammad Baloch reported. He indicated the explosion appeared to be a suicide attack, taking place as a large number of passengers were gathered on the platform.

Security forces have secured the area, and authorities are conducting a detailed investigation into the incident. The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, has ordered a formal inquiry.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in a statement, denouncing the violence and calling for swift justice.

An insurgency led by the Baloch Liberation Army has intensified in recent years, particularly since the leasing of the Gwadar port to China, a centerpiece of Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative in Pakistan. The BLA, which has frequently targeted infrastructure projects and Chinese personnel, was also responsible for a recent attack in October in Karachi, where a convoy of Chinese engineers was attacked, leaving two Chinese nationals dead.