Twelve people dead after explosion in Pakistani train

The explosion of a bomb aboard a passenger train killed at least 12 people and injured about 40 other on Tuesday, in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan (southwest), announced the theater of conflict between separatist rebel groups and armed forces officials.

The explosion took place in Sibi, a town located 160 kilometers south of the provincial capital, Quetta, on board of Jaffar Express, a passenger train, said the authorities.

"We found 11 dead among the debris of a wagon of train. Bodies were charred and were impossible to identify. One of the injured died because ot the wounds at the military hospital," Muhammad Nazar, a senior official in the local police told to the AFP.

A senior government official, Sher Khan buzz, confirmed this account.

Jaffar Express train was in October, the target of a another bombing, resulting in six deaths.

"The attack on the train can be a reaction to the ongoing operation against the rebels, particularly of the great offensive of the previous day," said the Pakistani Minister of Transport, Malik Saad Rafiq, for the private TV channel Geo TV.