Quetta, Pakistan – A devastating suicide attack at Quetta Railway Station on Saturday claimed at least 26 lives and left over 60 injured, including women and children. The explosion struck as passengers were boarding the Jaffar Express, turning the bustling platform into a scene of destruction.
The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) later released details and an image of the bomber, identified as Mohammad Rafiq Bezanjo, armed with a U.S.-made M4 rifle and other American military gear. Forensic analysis verified the weapon, uniform, ammunition jacket, and cap as U.S.-manufactured—items reportedly obtainable in Afghanistan through large financial exchanges. This discovery has deepened suspicions of Indian involvement in the Balochistan insurgency, with allegations that the BLA receives support from India’s intelligence agency, RAW.
In response, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) registered an FIR, with charges including murder, terrorism, and illegal use of explosives, while DNA samples from the bomber’s remains are being used for further identification.
One of the deadliest recent attacks in Balochistan, the bombing has spurred widespread condemnation and raised concerns about the region’s security amid suspected foreign backing. Pakistan’s armed forces have called for a united national front to dismantle these foreign-sponsored threats and restore stability.
Hospitals in Quetta were overwhelmed in the wake of the blast, as families and communities grieve the ongoing violence in this border province.
