At least 24 people have been killed in a blast targeting a train carrying military personnel in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.

Officials said the explosion struck near Quetta, wounding more than 50 people and derailing part of the train.

What do we know about the Balochistan explosion?

Authorities said an explosive-laden vehicle hit a carriage as the train passed a signal point, triggering a powerful blast that blew out windows and damaged nearby vehicles.

The train was carrying army personnel and their families from Quetta to Peshawar ahead of the Eid holiday.

Images from the scene showed a mangled carriage on its side, with rescuers pulling bloodied victims from the wreckage as security forces secured the area.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, calling it a "tragic loss of innocent lives," and a “cowardly act of terrorism."

What has been happening in Balochistan?

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and poorest province, has long faced unrest and militant violence. The oil- and mineral-rich region has long been the site of a low-level insurgency, with militants frequently targeting security forces and government facilities as well as civilians.

The province's chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, strongly condemned the attack, saying the militants had targeted "innocent civilians, including women and children," and promising the hunt down the perpetrators.

While authorities say the insurgency has been largely contained, violence persists, including a 2024 suicide bombing at a train station that killed at least 26 people, among them soldiers.

Edited by: Natalie Muller

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