A major suicide bomb attack shocked Quetta on Sunday morning after an explosives-filled vehicle detonated near a railway track while a passenger train was passing through the city. According to officials, the blast killed at least 24 people and injured more than 70 others. Many of the victims were security personnel and their family members travelling on the train, while civilians nearby were also caught in the explosion. The attack happened near the Chaman Phatak area of Quetta. The force of the explosion was extremely powerful, overturning at least two train carriages and setting parts of the train on fire. Thick black smoke covered the area as rescue workers, police, soldiers, and local residents rushed to help the injured. Witnesses described scenes of panic and chaos. People were seen pulling injured passengers from damaged train coaches while ambulances transported victims to nearby hospitals. Authorities declared an emergency at hospitals across Quetta because of the large number of casualties. Several nearby buildings and parked vehicles were also badly damaged by the explosion. Windows shattered across the surrounding area, and some homes suffered structural damage due to the blast wave. The banned separatist group Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said it targeted the train because it was carrying security personnel. The BLA has carried out several attacks in Balochistan in recent years, targeting security forces, railway infrastructure, and government installations. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the bombing, calling it a “cowardly terrorist attack.” He expressed condolences to the families of those killed and promised that the people behind the attack would be brought to justice. President Asif Ali Zardari and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also condemned the violence. Security forces quickly sealed off the area and launched an investigation. Bomb disposal teams and intelligence officials collected evidence from the scene to determine exactly how the attack was planned and carried out. Balochistan has faced insurgency and militant violence for many years. Separatist groups in the province say they are fighting for greater control over local resources and political rights, while the government considers them terrorist organizations. The province is strategically important because of its natural gas, minerals, and its connection to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. In recent months, Pakistan has seen a rise in attacks targeting security forces and public places, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Security experts warn that militant groups are becoming more aggressive despite ongoing military operations. Today’s attack is being described as one of the deadliest incidents in Quetta in recent years. Rescue operations continued throughout the day as authorities searched damaged train carriages and nearby areas for survivors. The tragedy has once again raised concerns about security and terrorism in Pakistan, while families across the country mourn the loss of innocent lives.