At least six people lost their lives in a blast targeting a school bus in the Khuzdar district of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, according to an official statement.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti confirmed that four children, the bus driver, and his assistant were killed in the attack on Wednesday. Yasir Iqbal Dashti, a government official from Khuzdar, reported that at least 38 individuals were injured.
“The school bus belonged to the Army Public School and was transporting children in the morning when the attack occurred,” a government official said.
Bugti, speaking at a press conference in Quetta, said initial investigations indicated the attack was carried out using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED). There were 46 students on board at the time.
“We have been airlifting the critically wounded children from Khuzdar to Quetta,” Bugti added.
He also stated it was too early to confirm the exact nature of the attack as investigations continue.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Pakistan’s military condemned the attack and accused “Indian terror proxies” of being behind it, although no evidence was provided to support this allegation. Prime Minister Sharif extended his sympathies to the families affected by the “brutal” incident.
In response, the Indian government dismissed the accusations as “baseless” and accused Pakistan of blaming India to distract from its own internal problems. The statement added, “This attempt to mislead the international community is doomed to fail.”
Officials have warned that the death toll may rise due to the severity of the blast.
Context of the Attack and Regional Tensions
Balochistan, a province rich in minerals and natural resources, has long been the site of a conflict between the Pakistani government and ethnic Baloch separatists seeking independence.
The attack on Wednesday follows a car bombing earlier this week that killed four people near a market in Qillah Abdullah, another area in Balochistan.
Many such attacks are claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which Pakistan alleges is supported by India—a claim New Delhi denies.
Reporting from Islamabad, an analyst noted that Pakistan is taking the school bus attack very seriously. The BLA, a banned group, usually claims responsibility for such incidents, and Pakistan accuses Indian intelligence agencies of funding these groups.
It was also noted that Pakistan and India often trade accusations following cross-border attacks, but violence in Balochistan is not new.
International Reactions
UNICEF condemned the “horrific” attack and expressed its deepest condolences to the victims’ families.
“Going to school should never be dangerous for any child, anywhere. Sadly, this is the painful reality for many children in Pakistan,” UNICEF said in a statement.
The organization called for an end to such violence, stressing that children must never be targeted.
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad also condemned the “brutal and unconscionable” attack on social media.
“The murder of innocent children is unimaginable. We mourn with the families who lost loved ones and send our best wishes to those recovering. No child should ever fear going to school. We stand with those in Pakistan working to end this violence,” the embassy said.
Separatist Threats Continue
In one of the deadliest BLA attacks, the group killed 33 people, mostly soldiers, during a train assault in Balochistan in March.
Earlier this week, the BLA vowed to carry out more attacks targeting the Pakistani army and its collaborators. The group claims its aim is to establish a peaceful, prosperous, and independent Balochistan.
