At least 26 people have been killed and over 50 injured in a bomb blast at a train station in Quetta, Pakistan. The explosion occurred when nearly 100 passengers were waiting for a train to Rawalpindi. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that a suicide bomber targeted troops at the railway station. Government spokesman Shahid Rind indicated that the bombing appeared to be a suicide attack, but an investigation is ongoing to confirm the BLA’s claim. TV footage showed the steel structure of a platform’s roof blown apart, a destroyed tea stall, and luggage scattered across the scene. Police reported that about a dozen security personnel are among the dead. Mouzzam Jah Ansari, Inspector General of Police for Balochistan, stated that many of the injured are in critical condition, noting that the primary target was army personnel from the Infantry School. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, stating that those responsible “will pay a very heavy price for it,” and affirmed the determination of security forces to eliminate terrorism. The BLA, an outlawed group, has long sought independence from Pakistan, frequently targeting security forces and foreigners. Last month, the group claimed a suicide bombing that targeted a convoy with Chinese nationals outside Karachi airport, killing two people. In August, at least 73 people were killed in Balochistan province following attacks by separatist militants on police stations, railway lines, and highways. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, is rich in oil and minerals and a hub for separatist and Islamic militant activities. The ethnic Baloch minority in the region claims to face discrimination and exploitation by the central government.