Pakistan School Bus Bombing Leaves Four Children Dead, Dozens Injured

A devastating Pakistan school bus bombing in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan has claimed the lives of at least four children and injured more than 30 others, according to local officials. The blast occurred on Wednesday morning as the bus, carrying students from the Army Public School (APS), was en route to school.

Authorities believe the attack was carried out by a suspected suicide bomber, though investigations are ongoing to confirm the exact nature of the explosive device.

Pakistan School Bus Targeted in Deadly Blast

Yasir Iqbal Dashti, a senior administrative officer in Khuzdar, confirmed the targeting of the APS bus. “A bus carrying children of the APS was targeted with a bomb, the nature of which is still being determined,” Dashti told AFP. “The initial probe suggests it was a suicide bombing.”

A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, corroborated the number of fatalities and warned that the death toll could rise due to the severity of the injuries sustained by many of the students.

The tragic incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of civilians, particularly children, in regions plagued by violence and militancy. Many of the wounded have been transferred to nearby hospitals, where medical teams are working urgently to stabilize them.

In a statement following the attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. He described the bombing as an act of “brutality” and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Sharif went further, accusing India of backing militant proxies in Pakistan. “Terrorists operating under Indian patronage attacking innocent children on a school bus is clear evidence of their hostility,” the Prime Minister’s statement read.

The Pakistan military echoed these sentiments, calling the attack “planned and orchestrated” by India. Islamabad has frequently blamed New Delhi for supporting insurgent groups, particularly in the restive Balochistan region.

India has consistently denied any involvement in terrorist activities within Pakistan, and these mutual accusations have been a longstanding point of tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors

Balochistan has long been a hotbed of separatist and extremist violence. Ethnic Baloch insurgents, who seek greater autonomy or independence from Pakistan, have intensified their attacks in recent years. Among the most active groups is the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has targeted Pakistani security forces and government installations in the province.

The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) also operate in the region and have been responsible for various high-profile attacks in recent years. However, no group has yet claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s bombing.

Earlier this year, the BLA made global headlines after militants hijacked a train in Balochistan, resulting in dozens of deaths, including those of off-duty security personnel.

The attack on the Pakistan school bus has triggered renewed concern over the safety of students and educational institutions in conflict-prone regions. Army Public Schools are often considered high-risk targets due to their affiliation with the military, which insurgent groups see as an adversary.

This incident is reminiscent of the harrowing 2014 Peshawar school attack, where Pakistani Taliban gunmen massacred over 140 people, most of them children. That tragedy led to nationwide security reforms and increased military operations against extremist elements.

Despite those measures, incidents like Wednesday’s bombing illustrate the enduring threat posed by militant groups, particularly in remote and underdeveloped regions such as Balochistan.

While no immediate international response has been issued, past attacks on children in Pakistan have sparked global condemnation and demands for greater protection of educational institutions.

The United Nations and international human rights groups are expected to issue statements in the coming days, especially as the investigation unfolds and more information becomes available.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice and is under pressure to reassess the security protocols for student transportation, especially in volatile regions.

As families mourn the young lives lost, the country is once again confronted with the stark reality that even school buses—symbols of safety and learning—are not immune to the horrors of terrorism. Let me know if you’d like this version adapted for publication or translated into another language.

Source- PUNCH