At least 20 people were killed and dozens more injured on Thursday when a bomb exploded aboard a passenger train in southern Pakistan, officials said. The attack, which targeted a crowded carriage near the city of Quetta, has drawn international condemnation, with the United Kingdom expressing solidarity with its Commonwealth ally.
The improvised explosive device detonated as the train was travelling through a remote area of Balochistan province, a region long plagued by separatist insurgency and sectarian violence. Police and military personnel have secured the scene, and rescue operations are underway. No group has yet claimed responsibility, but suspicion is likely to fall on Baloch militant organisations that have previously attacked infrastructure targets.
British Prime Minister, speaking from Downing Street, called the attack “a cowardly act of terrorism” and affirmed that “the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan in the fight against extremism.” The Foreign Office has advised British nationals in the region to avoid non-essential travel and monitor local media.
The bombing comes at a time of heightened political tensions in Pakistan, with the government facing criticism over its handling of security. It also underscores the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups operating along vital transport links. Pakistan’s interior minister vowed that those responsible would be “brought to justice”, while security analysts warn that such attacks are designed to destabilise the country ahead of planned elections.
The Commonwealth Secretariat issued a statement expressing “deep shock and sorrow” and offering condolences to the families of the victims. This incident is the deadliest on Pakistan’s railway network since the 2016 bombing of a train in Peshawar that killed over 70 people.
