The Slavic leader’s telegram, published on the Kremlin’s website on Saturday, said Putin expressed his deepest condolences and strongly condemned the barbaric crime, whose victims included women and children.

‘We trust that the organisers of the crime will be punished,’ reads the message from the Russian head of state.

He also expressed his intention to continue to work closely with Pakistani partners to fight all forms and manifestations of terrorism.

On Saturday, an explosion occurred at a railway station in the Pakistani city of Quetta, in the province of Balochistan, killing more than 20 persons and injuring some 40 others.

According to Chief Superintendent of Police Muhammad Baloch, quoted by the Geo News television channel, the incident appears to be a suicide bombing.

The Pakistani provinces of Jaiber Pakhtunkhwa (northwest) and Balochistan (west) suffer sporadic attacks by separatist and terrorist groups based in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Last September, 27 attacks were reported in Balochistan, killing 22 people and injuring 48; in August there were 43 attacks, killing 125 and injuring 77, according to Geo News, which cites data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

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