KARACHI: As the nation stood united in solidarity with the people of Balochistan following the Quetta train massacre, the terrorist attack drew widespread condemnation from across the world.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while denouncing the bombing, said such acts of terrorism were aimed at harming innocent people and diverting attention from Pakistan’s efforts to promote global peace.
Messages of condolence and condemnation poured in not only from Pakistan’s neighbouring countries, with the exception of India, but also from the United Kingdom, Turkiye, Australia and Russia, among others.
In his statement, President Zardari said, “Elements hostile to Pakistan are attempting to undermine our initiatives that serve broader humanitarian objectives, global peace and progress.”
President, PM say terror attack aimed at diverting attention from Pakistan’s efforts to promote global peace
He stated that terrorists and their patrons were also “seeking to disrupt Pakistan’s focus on stability and development”. However, Pakistan would defeat terrorists, their facilitators, financiers and those providing them safe havens, he said.
He added that the country would also thwart every conspiracy against peace, stability and national security.
Pakistan would neither forget nor forgive the terrorists and their patrons, President Zardari declared, vowing that every drop of blood of those killed would be accounted for.
In a post on X, PM Shehbaz said, “Such cowardly acts of terrorism cannot weaken the resolve of the people of Pakistan. We remain steadfast in our determination to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. “The entire nation stands in solidarity with the people of Balochistan in this hour of grief,” he added.
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar while condemning the “savage act of terrorism targeting innocent civilians on a shuttle train near Chaman Phatak, Quetta” expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. He also paid tribute to the first responders, police, armed forces, and rescue and health personnel for their “courage and efforts in assisting those affected”.
“We stand in complete solidarity with the people of Balochistan at this difficult time. Those responsible for this cowardly attack against innocent civilians will be brought to justice. Such heinous acts cannot and will not weaken Pakistan’s resolve to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said.
The Chinese embassy in Pakistan expressed its firm opposition to any form of terrorism, stating that China would, as always, firmly support Pakistan in combating terrorism and protecting the safety of the people. “We stand firmly with our Pakistani brothers and sisters at this moment,” the embassy said.
Also, the Russian embassy in Pakistan condemned the incident, expressing hope that the perpetrators would be “identified and brought to justice”. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wish all those injured a speedy recovery,” the embassy wrote on X.
The Turkish foreign ministry said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives caused by the terrorist attack targeting a passenger train today (May 24) in Balochistan. We strongly condemn this heinous attack, wish God’s mercy upon those who lost their lives, and extend our condolences to their families and to the people of Pakistan.”
It emphasised that such attacks targeting the peace and stability of the region were “utterly unacceptable” and reiterated Turkiye’s “solidarity with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism”.
Iranian ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam said Iran categorically and with the strongest words condemned the cowardly and heinous suicide terrorist act on the Quetta railway.
“Terrorism is a condemnable phenomenon in all its forms all over the world.
In particular, the malicious and mischievous acts against the civil transportation infrastructure that serve for the human development and the smooth movements of the passengers and consignments needed for the development of trade, are examples of crimes against humanity and reflect the malicious, infirm and inhumane minds of the perpetrators, founders and supporters of this heinous phenomenon,” he said in a statement
UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott wrote on X, “I am absolutely appalled by today’s cowardly terrorist attack on a train in Quetta... Our thoughts and prayers are with the martyrs and their families.”
In his message, Timothy Kane, Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan wrote, “Deeply saddened by the tragic terrorist attack in #Quetta. Australia stands with the people of Pakistan at this difficult time.
We extend heartfelt condolences to those who lost loved ones and wish a full and swift recovery to those who were injured.”
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it was “gravely alarmed” at the security situation across Balochistan, stressing that “civilians, workers, passengers, and law enforcement personnel are increasingly vulnerable to violence, abduction, and attacks on public infrastructure” in the province.
The HRCP maintained that the bombing marked a “deeply disturbing acceleration in attacks on civilians in the province”.
It added that equally troubling were reports of repeated incidents in Chagai at the Reko Diq site and in Ziarat, where armed groups allegedly abducted at least 21 civilians a week and torched vehicles.
The HRCP termed it unacceptable that civilians and non-combatants be used as “bargaining tools in situations of conflict and insecurity”, calling on the state to ensure civilian protection and accountability for rights abuses by “all actors”.
Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2026