Bloody terrorist attack in Pakistan: dozens of people died

As a result of a powerful explosion in the south-west of Pakistan, at least 24 people were killed and about 50 others were injured. This is reported by AP.

It is noted that the suicide bomber blew himself up at the railway station. The attack occurred as nearly 100 passengers were waiting for a train bound for the garrison city of Rawalpindi from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.

Among the dead at the station were about a dozen soldiers and six railway workers. The attacker was apparently disguised as a passenger and blew himself up among people.

The separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying the suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station. The banned AVB has been leading a rebellion for a long time, seeking independence from Islamabad," the article says.

Senior Superintendent of Police Operations Muhammad Baloch said separatists often attack "easy targets":

“When their people are arrested, they also attack back. We all have to fight this war. We are resilient. Our teams are here and trying to save as many lives as possible."

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast in a statement, saying those behind the attack "will pay a very high price," adding that security forces were determined to eliminate the "threat of terrorism."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan also condemned the explosion and expressed condolences to the families of the victims, as did the Russian Embassy in Islamabad.

The publication adds that Balochistan, rich in oil and minerals, is the largest but least populated province of Pakistan. It is a hotbed of the country's Baloch ethnic minority, whose members say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government. Along with separatist groups, Islamic militants also operate in the province.