Blast kills 26 in Pakistan
At least 26 people were killed after a blast ripped through a Quetta Railway Station in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Saturday. (Photo/Agencies)
Blast at Quetta railway station
Dozens of others were injured in the blast, which happened as a morning train was about to leave Quetta station in southwestern Pakistan for Peshawar. (Photo/Agencies)
'Pools of blood'
There were pools of blood and ripped backpacks at the scene, where a large metal sheet protecting passengers from the elements had been blown off, news agency AFP reported. (Photo/Agencies)
BLA claims responsibility
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a militant organisation, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attack. (Photo/Agencies)
BLA says attack targeted Pakistan Army
The attack "was carried out on a Pakistani army unit at Quetta railway station... after completing a course at the Infantry School," the BLA said in a statement. (Photo/Agencies)
Recent surge in attacks
There has been a recent surge in deadly attacks in the province, driven by demands for independence and control over local resources. (Photo/Agencies)
BLA targets foreign funded projects
The BLA seeks independence for Balochistan, a province of about 15 million people that borders Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west. Militants have in the past targeted energy projects with foreign financing -- most notably from China -- accusing outsiders of exploiting the resource-rich region while excluding residents in the poorest part of Pakistan.