Tragically, at least five people, including three schoolchildren, lost their lives and several others were injured in a suicide bombing that targeted a school bus in Khuzdar early Wednesday morning, according to civil and military officials.
Khuzdar: The suspected bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle straight into the school bus as it passed Zero Point near the Rakhshan Hotel, as explained by Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal Dashti. The bus was transporting students to the Army Public School (APS) located within the Khuzdar cantonment.
The Bomb Disposal Squad reported that the vehicle was packed with over 30 kilograms of explosives.
The military’s media wing announced that “three innocent children and two adults have embraced Shahadat,” and many children suffered injuries in this “cowardly and horrific attack orchestrated by the terrorist state of India and carried out by its proxies in Balochistan.”
The ISPR further stated that India has unleashed its proxies to instigate terror and chaos in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa through such despicable acts after failing miserably on the battlefield.
In the wake of this deadly attack, security forces quickly cordoned off the area and initiated an investigation. Security measures were heightened in and around Khuzdar following the bombing, with checkpoints set up and patrols intensified to thwart any further attacks.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti disclosed that intelligence agencies had received prior warnings about a proxy strike being planned by hostile forces. “We could never have imagined such brutality, where innocent schoolchildren would be targeted,” he told the media during an impromptu press conference. “This is the true face of our enemies.”
The chief minister asserted that Indian proxies are behind this atrocity, adding that Afghanistan’s territory is being exploited as a launch pad for attacks aimed at destabilizing Balochistan.
Balochistan has been facing a brutal separatist insurgency ever since the tragic killing of Baloch chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti during a security operation back in 2006. The insurgent groups involved are reportedly receiving support, training, and funding from India’s intelligence agency, RAW.
“After failing in Operation Bunnianum Marsoos and being pursued by military and law enforcement, these Indian terror proxies are being used as tools by India to incite terrorism in Pakistan, targeting vulnerable groups like innocent children and civilians,” the ISPR stated.
“The use of terrorism as a state policy by the Indian government is appalling and shows a complete lack of morality and respect for basic human values,” it continued.
The military emphasized that those who plan, support, and carry out these cowardly attacks sponsored by India will be tracked down and brought to justice, revealing the true face of India to the world. “The Pakistan Armed Forces, alongside the courageous Pakistani nation, are united in their mission to eradicate Indian-sponsored terrorism in all its forms.”
In response to the recent Khuzdar attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir made an urgent trip to Quetta, where they received a briefing on the situation, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Prime Minister condemned the attack and expressed profound sorrow over the loss of innocent children and their teachers. He offered his condolences to the grieving families and instructed authorities to identify and hold accountable those responsible.
President Asif Zardari condemned the attack, calling it a violation of human rights, and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families who are grieving.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) stated that “deliberately targeting schoolchildren—innocent noncombatants in every sense—is a line that should never be crossed. This act goes against the most fundamental principles of humanity and international humanitarian law,” as noted in their statement.
“The state has a duty to maintain law and order by reinforcing civilian institutions and the rule of law—not through indiscriminate military responses,” they added, urging for the swift identification and prosecution of those responsible and their supporters through lawful means. The HRCP also highlighted the pressing need for a genuine political dialogue to tackle the deep-seated issues of representation, governance, and resource distribution in Balochistan.
Condemnations came in from various countries as well. The United States expressed outrage over the murder of innocent children, calling it “beyond comprehension.” In a statement shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the US Embassy in Islamabad conveyed their deep sorrow regarding the attack and offered solidarity to the victims and their families.
“No child should ever have to fear going to school,” US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker was quoted as saying in the statement. “We stand with those in Pakistan who are striving to put an end to this violence.”
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong also extended his “deepest condolences” to the families of the victims and heartfelt sympathy to those injured. “We strongly condemn this terrorist attack and express our deepest condolences to the deceased, along with sincere sympathy to the injured and the bereaved families,” the ambassador stated during a ceremony celebrating the 74th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.
“China opposes all forms of terrorism and will continue to firmly support Pakistan in its counter-terrorism efforts, maintaining social stability, and ensuring the safety of its people.”
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