Suicide Bombing Targets School Bus in Pakistan’s Balochistan, Killing 5 Including Children

Deadly School Bus Attack in Balochistan Sparks Outrage and Political Tension

A suicide car bombing targeted a military-operated school bus on the outskirts of Khuzdar in southwestern Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Wednesday, killing at least five people, including three children, and injuring 38 others, authorities said.

The blast, which struck as the children were being transported to school, marks one of the deadliest attacks in recent months in the volatile region. Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal confirmed the toll and said emergency services responded rapidly, transporting victims to local hospitals. Initial reports indicated four children had died, but officials later clarified that two adults were among the dead, and several injured children remain in critical condition.

Images aired by local news channels showed a heavily damaged bus with shattered windows and charred metal, surrounded by scattered debris. Footage from Geo News displayed the aftermath, highlighting the chaos and scale of destruction.

No Immediate Claim, But BLA Suspected

While no group has claimed responsibility so far, suspicion has turned toward the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group frequently behind attacks in the region. The BLA, labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2019, has a history of targeting security forces, infrastructure, and state-aligned civilians in its bid for an independent Balochistan.

Pakistan’s military described the incident as “yet another cowardly and ghastly attack,” alleging it was orchestrated by India through its proxies in the province — a claim New Delhi has not responded to as of publication.

Pakistan’s Government Condemns ‘Barbaric’ Act

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the bombing, calling the perpetrators “beasts” for targeting innocent children and vowed that “no leniency” would be shown to those behind the attack.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also laid blame on India, stating, “The attack on a school bus by terrorists backed by India is clear proof of their hostility toward education in Balochistan.” He pledged justice for the victims but offered no direct evidence linking India to the bombing.

Such accusations come amid renewed tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, especially over the disputed Kashmir region, raising concerns over potential escalation.

Balochistan’s Violent Insurgency

Despite being Pakistan’s largest province, Balochistan remains sparsely populated and economically underdeveloped. Ethnic Baloch separatists have waged a violent insurgency for decades, citing political and economic marginalization by Islamabad.

In March, the BLA claimed responsibility for a major attack on a train in Balochistan, killing 33 people, mostly soldiers. Just this week, the group vowed to escalate its assaults on what it terms “the Pakistani army and its collaborators.”

Though targeting children is rare for separatists in Balochistan, similar school attacks have occurred elsewhere in Pakistan. The most notable was the 2014 Peshawar school massacre, where the Pakistani Taliban killed 154 people, mostly children, at an army-run school.