Reuters said it could not independently verify the group’s claim. The BLA has carried out repeated attacks in Balochistan, where separatist militants accuse Pakistan’s central government of exploiting the province’s natural gas and mineral resources without sufficiently benefiting local communities.
Hospitals placed on emergency footing
Authorities declared a medical emergency at hospitals in Quetta to handle the influx of wounded people, AP reported. Doctors said several of the injured were in critical condition.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, while Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also denounced the attack and vowed action against those responsible.
Attack adds to Pakistan security concerns
The Quetta bombing comes amid a broader surge in militant violence across Pakistan, including attacks by separatist groups in Balochistan and Islamist militants elsewhere in the country.
In March 2025, BLA militants hijacked the Jaffar Express, taking hundreds of passengers hostage before a military operation ended the standoff. Reuters reported that 21 hostages, four troops and 33 attackers were killed in that incident, citing the Pakistani military.
Sunday’s attack also follows a deadly February 6 bombing at a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad. Reuters reported that at least 31 people were killed and more than 170 were injured in that attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State.