Overview
- Officials say a vehicle-borne explosive struck a shuttle train near Chaman Phatak in Quetta on Sunday, May 24, 2026, derailing multiple coaches, overturning carriages and setting fires at the scene.
- Provincial and federal authorities put the death toll at least 24 with dozens more wounded, hospitals in Quetta declared medical emergencies and casualty figures have varied across reports.
- The banned Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility and described the operation as a suicide or fidayeen attack, while investigators continue to verify the claim and collect forensic evidence.
- Rail services linked to the Jaffar Express were halted as a precaution, security agencies were ordered on high alert across Balochistan and rescue teams secured the blast site for search-and-recovery work.
- The strike is the latest in a string of attacks on trains and security targets in resource-rich Balochistan and raises the risk of further disruptions to holiday travel and tougher counterinsurgency measures.