Khuzdar, Balochistan – A devastating suicide bombing targeted a school bus in Khuzdar, killing five people, including three young schoolgirls and two staff members, and injuring at least 38 others, according to official sources.
The tragic incident occurred near Zero Point in Khuzdar, where a school bus carrying students was struck by a powerful explosion. Authorities confirmed that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who detonated explosives near or inside the vehicle.
According to Khuzdar’s Deputy Commissioner, initial investigations point to a suicide attacker who blew himself up, causing massive destruction to the bus. Among the deceased were the bus driver and his assistant. The injured, many of whom are in critical condition, were airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Quetta for urgent medical care.
The victims included three female students: Sania Soomro from grade 6, Hafza Kausar from grade 7, and Ayesha Saleem from grade 10.
Law enforcement quickly secured the area following the explosion, and a search operation is currently underway. Police reports indicate significant damage to the vehicle as a result of the blast.
PM Visits Quetta Amid Crisis
Following the attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Quetta, accompanied by federal ministers Khawaja Asif, Mohsin Naqvi, and Atta Tarar. They were received by Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and his cabinet members. High-level meetings and security briefings are expected to take place in light of the tragic developments.
U.S. Condemns “Barbaric and Unimaginable” Attack
Natalie Baker, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Pakistan, condemned the “barbaric and incomprehensible” assault on innocent schoolchildren. She expressed deep sorrow over the loss of young lives and extended sympathies to the grieving families, also praying for the swift recovery of the injured. She stressed that no child should ever be afraid to attend school and reaffirmed U.S. support for those working to end violence in Pakistan.
Attack Linked to Indian Terror Networks: ISPR
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Pakistan Army stated that the school bus attack was orchestrated by terrorist networks supported by India. According to the military’s media wing, the targeting of innocent children reflects the desperation and moral bankruptcy of India-backed militants.
ISPR vowed that Pakistan’s armed forces, with the support of the nation, will dismantle such terror networks and bring all planners, facilitators, and perpetrators to justice.
The statement further emphasized that this attack highlights the inhumane policies of the Indian government and its use of proxy terrorism to destabilize the region. It claimed that after suffering a humiliating defeat in “Operation Bunyān Marsūs,” India has resorted to using proxies to spread violence in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
India Behind the Attack, Say Security Officials
Security sources claim that the attack was planned and directed from India following their failure on the battlefield. According to intelligence reports, Indian operatives provided instructions for the attack, which was then executed by proxies inside Balochistan.
The names of the martyred girls—Sania Soomro, Hafza Kausar, and Ayesha Saleem—were confirmed again by the sources. Several children injured in the blast were shifted to local hospitals immediately.
National Outrage and Condemnation
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly act sponsored by India. President Zardari termed the killing of innocent children “unbearable and deeply tragic,” and assured that the culprits will face justice.
PM Shehbaz Sharif stated that the targeting of schoolchildren is a glaring example of India’s hostility towards education in Balochistan. He assured that the attackers and their sponsors would be tracked down and held accountable. He also directed authorities to provide immediate medical care to the injured students.
He added that the federal government, alongside security forces, remains resolute in eradicating terrorism from the country.
Interior Minister and Provincial Leaders React
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the bombing as a heinous conspiracy aimed at destabilizing Pakistan. Expressing grief over the loss of young lives, he said those who target innocent children deserve no mercy and that the nation will stand united against such evil.
Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti named Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval as the mastermind behind the attack, stating that Indian money is funding terrorism in the region. He pledged to avenge the blood of the martyred children and eliminate the terrorists.
Bugti also condemned the use of Afghan territory for launching attacks against Pakistan and warned that while the province does not wish for mass displacement, the government will act decisively if forced to.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s Statement
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also condemned the attack, calling it a “shameful and cowardly act.” Expressing solidarity with the grieving families, he said that no condemnation can truly capture the horror of this brutal assault on innocent lives.
