PTBP Web Desk
In a deeply tragic incident, a school bus was targeted in a deadly blast in Khuzdar district of Balochistan on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals, including three innocent children. Several others sustained injuries in what the Pakistan military has described as a cowardly terrorist attack orchestrated by Indian-backed proxies.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, issued a strong-worded statement condemning the act and attributing the planning and execution of the attack to India and its sponsored militant elements operating within Balochistan.
According to Yasir Iqbal, the administrator of Khuzdar district, the blast occurred while the school bus was en route to an army-run educational institution within a military cantonment. He confirmed that around 40 schoolchildren were on board at the time of the explosion.
Iqbal reported multiple injuries among the students and emphasized that the bus was clearly marked and carrying school-aged children, which makes the attack particularly horrific.
“This was a direct attack on innocent children. The bus was heading to a school inside the cantonment area,” he told Reuters, confirming that at least three children and two adults lost their lives.
In its official release, ISPR strongly condemned the bombing, labeling it “yet another cowardly and ghastly attack planned and orchestrated by the terrorist state of India and executed by its proxies.” The military spokesperson noted that India, having failed to destabilize Pakistan through conventional means, is now resorting to targeting civilians and schoolchildren.
“Through these most heinous and cowardly acts, Indian proxies have been unleashed to spread terror and unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the statement read.
ISPR further asserted that such acts are part of a larger strategy by foreign intelligence networks to derail peace in Pakistan and create unrest in strategically sensitive regions such as Balochistan.
ISPR vowed a strong response, stating:
“The planners, abettors, and executors of this cowardly Indian-sponsored attack will be hunted down and brought to justice. The heinous face of India will be exposed in front of the entire world.”
The military assured the public that the Pakistan Armed Forces, with the unwavering support of the nation, are determined to eliminate terrorism in all its forms, especially those backed by foreign entities.
“Pakistan Armed Forces, with the support of the brave Pakistani nation, stand united to uproot Indian-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan in all its manifestations,” the statement added.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also issued a statement condemning the attack in the strongest terms. Referring to the incident as an “explosion inside the bus near Khuzdar Zero Point”, Naqvi expressed profound grief and sorrow over the deaths of innocent children.
He extended his condolences to the bereaved families and vowed that the perpetrators of this inhumane act would be brought to justice.
“The beasts who target innocent children do not deserve any leniency,” the minister declared, adding that the government would ensure maximum efforts to catch those responsible and prevent such tragedies in the future.
The Khuzdar blast comes amid increasing incidents of militant violence in Balochistan, a province that has long been a flashpoint due to its strategic importance and natural resources. While the state continues to battle separatist elements and foreign-funded terror networks, attacks on soft targets such as schoolchildren represent a deeply troubling shift in militant tactics.
Balochistan has witnessed several attacks in recent months, including targeted killings, bombings, and assaults on security forces. The government and military leadership have consistently pointed fingers at foreign involvement, particularly by India, for supporting anti-state elements in the region.
