QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan's railways suspended all train services on Monday to and from a restive southwestern province where a suicide bombing at a train station over the weekend killed 26 people, including soldiers and railway staff.
The train services would be suspended for four days for security reasons, according to a statement from Pakistan Railways.
The attack, claimed by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army struck the station in the city of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, on Saturday. At lest 62 people were also wounded in the bombing, officials said.
The provincial government also declared a three-day mourning period in solidarity with the families of the victims and said that security has been stepped up and vowed to hit back “with full force” against the separatists, according to Sarfraz Bugti, the province's chief minister.
Bugti spoke after meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who traveled to Quetta on Sunday to be briefed about the situation. Naqvi's office said in a statement that authorities would “take decisive steps to crush the terrorists" and support the local Balochistan government in dealing with the "scourge of terrorism.”
Train services are a major part of Balochistan's economy — hundreds of people travel to and from Quetta to other parts of the country every day. Trains also transport food and other items.
Saturday's attack took place when about 100 passengers were waiting for a train to leave the Quetta station for the garrison city of Rawalpindi, police had said. In its claim of responsibility, the separatist BLA said it targeted Pakistani troops.
The attack was the deadliest since August, when separatists killed more than 50 people in multiple coordinated attacks on passengers buses, police and security forces across Balochistan.
The oil- and mineral-rich Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but also least populated province. It is a hub for the country’s ethnic Baloch minority whose members say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government.
Balochistan has for years been the scene of a long-running insurgency, with several separatist groups staging attacks, targeting mainly security forces in their quest for independence. The province also has an array of militant groups that are active there.
The separatists also target Chinese nationals working in Pakistan as part of Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, an initiative that has built power plants, roads, railroads and ports around the world and is a major part of China's push to play a larger role in global affairs
Last month, a suicide bomber dispatched by the BLA targeted a convoy with Chinese nationals outside the country’s largest airport in the port city of Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, killing two Chinese workers and wounding eight people.
Authorities subsequently claimed they arrested the mastermind of that Oct. 6 attack in a raid in Balochistan.
Ziaul Hassan, the interior minister in southern Sindh province, told reporters on Monday that police arrested also three other suspects, including a woman, over their direct involvement in the Karachi attack.
He identified the alleged mastermind only as Javed, without explaining if that was a real name, a pseudonym or why he wasn't giving a full name. Hassan also said more arrests were planned and that police were assisted by security camera footage in their investigation.
According to the minister, the car used in the Oct. 6 attack was brought to the city from Balochistan province.
Hassan said an investigation was still underway over last week's shooting attack that wounded two Chinese workers at a textile mill in Karachi.
Associated Press writer Muhammad Farooq in Karachi, Pakistan, contributed to this report.
Security officials examine the site of a bomb explosion at railway station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)
A man, who was injured in a bomb explosion at railway station, walks with help of his relatives after receiving initial treatment at a hospital, in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)
Security officials examine the site of a bomb explosion at railway station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Arshad Butt)
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Miami Dolphins need plenty of outside help to make the AFC playoffs. First, though, they must help themselves.
With no margin for error, the Dolphins (7-8) hope to stay in the postseason hunt at least another week with a win Sunday over the Browns (3-12), whose season disintegrated weeks ago and appear on the brink of another disruptive offseason.
For Miami, this is another must-win situation, which is no different from a week ago when the Dolphins beat San Francisco. But with just two games left, the Dolphins' bubble is precariously brittle.
There are several scenarios that could lead them to a playoff berth, but they all begin with wins in Cleveland and at the New York Jets (4-11) next week. Also, they'll need various combinations of losses by the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos just to make the field.
In fact, the Chargers (9-6) and Broncos (9-6) both play Saturday, and if they win, the Dolphins could be eliminated before they even get to Cleveland.
Their chances aren't great — roughly 10% according to various playoff projection sites — but coach Mike McDaniel is confident his players have a single mindset and purpose.
Focus shouldn't be an issue.
“This team, what they’ve really gone through and fought for, it’s not a difficult task seeing how we have, a one-game season and our chances at the playoffs are at stake,” McDaniel said. “That has been a driving force — really is for our locker room and our coaching staff, really wants to play the type of football that we felt like we fell short of at portions of the season.”
Like any team, the Dolphins have had their share of ups and downs. If they miss the playoffs, a 2-6 start will be among the biggest regrets.
While their odds aren't great, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said he and his teammates should be grateful for what's ahead.
"It’s an opportunity and I don’t think any of us on our team should take this for granted,” said Tagovailoa, who may have more perspective than others given his history with concussions. "This is something that we’ve worked extremely hard for to be in the positions that we’re in now, to be able to play in the NFL.
“That in itself has been a dream, so for you to short-circuit yourself and be like, ‘Oh, no, we’ll get it next year.’ Well, how do you even know that there is going to be a next year for your career or there’s going to be a next game for you? You just never know when you’re weighing out those options.”
The Browns are closing out a season filled with disappointment.
This was supposed to be the year they took another step toward a championship. Instead, they went in reverse.
It will be the second straight start for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who threw two interceptions, was sacked five times and only led the Browns to one score in last week's 24-6 loss at Cincinnati.
Going into that game, Thompson-Robinson said he viewed the final three games as an audition for next season. He's had another full week to prepare, but the second-year QB said he's done using his inexperience to explain away mistakes.
“I’m not going to use that as an excuse anymore,” said Thompson-Robinson, who has been dealing with a calf strain. "This isn’t my first time playing. I’m not a rookie no more, so I can’t use that as an excuse. I got to go out there and be able to execute, and when things don’t go right, don’t make a bad play worse.”
Jordyn Brooks is having one of the most productive seasons for a Dolphins defender.
The linebacker's 128 total tackles are the most in a season for Miami in the last 15 years, and his three sacks make him one of four players in the NFL with at least three sacks and 100 tackles in each of the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Signed as a free agent after four seasons in Seattle, Brooks is also the only player this season with at least 100 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five passes defensed and three sacks.
“Going through some adversity early in the season as a team, that can always be difficult,” Brooks said, “but I feel like during the course of the season, it’s been a great first year getting to play with some of the guys I get to play with and then playing in the system, scheme under coach (defensive coordinator Anthony) Weaver, he’s been great for us all year.”
McDaniel said much of this season has been about managing a wrist injury that star receiver Tyreek Hill has been dealing with, while making sure that he gets adequate reps at practice.
Hill had a poor performance against the 49ers, catching just three of seven targets for 29 yards and a touchdown. He had a third-down drop on the Dolphins’ opening drive and later dropped a potential TD.
Hill later said the mistakes were due to a lack of “valuable reps” with Tagovailoa in practice after being given some rest days over the past month.
“Those Wednesday reps are definitely showing,” Hill said. “As a leader, I’ve just got to be able to bite the bullet sometime and practice and get those valuable reps with QB1.”
AP Sports Writer Alanis Thames in Miami contributed.
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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) celebrates his touchdown with running back De'Von Achane (28) during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton (21) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) aims a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
