Residents in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta have expressed deep sorrow and uncertainty as they struggle to prepare for Eid Al-Adha following a devastating suicide bomb attack on a passenger train that killed more than 30 people and damaged numerous homes and vehicles in surrounding neighborhoods.
Attack Details
The attack, which was claimed by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), targeted a shuttle train carrying Pakistani security personnel and their families on Sunday in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. Officials reported that the bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the train, causing coaches to derail and severely damaging nearby residential areas.
This bombing is the latest in a series of attacks in Balochistan, a mineral-rich province that borders Iran and Afghanistan. Separatist militants have been waging a decades-long insurgency against the Pakistani state in the region, which is also home to major Chinese-backed infrastructure and energy projects, including the strategic Gwadar deep-sea port.
Impact on Residents
As rescue workers cleared debris and families surveyed their damaged homes ahead of the Eid holiday, residents described scenes of devastation and uncertainty. Hishrat, a housewife whose home was destroyed in the blast, appealed for government assistance: "I appeal to the government to help me. My entire house, from top to bottom, has been destroyed. We had built this house with great hard work. My husband drove a vehicle his entire life, and I saved every single penny to build this house. Please help me."
Muhammad Haseeb, a private employee, highlighted the contrast between the festive season and the grim reality faced by the affected community: "People are roaming in the markets for Eid shopping and for purchasing animals for sacrifice, but for us, you see our condition. We are busy cleaning up our destroyed house. The explosion that happened yesterday destroyed our entire neighborhood including our house. There has been a great deal of financial and human loss."
Another resident, Farooq, stated that Eid was no longer a priority: "Eid is for those whose houses are intact and who can go shopping. We also had to do shopping for Eid, but now that is impossible, because our house is destroyed."
Official Response
Pakistani officials confirmed that the blast derailed the train's engine and several coaches. Images from the scene showed overturned bogies, burnt vehicles, and debris scattered across the area. The BLA has intensified attacks in Balochistan in recent years, targeting trains, security forces, and infrastructure projects. In March last year, militants hijacked the Jaffar Express train and took hundreds hostage before Pakistani forces launched an operation that ended the standoff.
