Suicide car bomb rams into school bus in Pakistan's Balochistan, 4 children dead and 38 injured
PTC Web Desk: A devastating suicide car bomb attack struck a school bus in Pakistan’s restive southwestern province of Balochistan, killing four children and injuring at least 38 others, according to officials cited by The Associated Press.
The incident occurred in the Khuzdar district as the school bus was transporting children to their classes, said Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal. The attacker rammed an explosive-laden vehicle directly into the bus, causing a massive blast that left charred wreckage and scattered school supplies in its wake.
While no group has immediately claimed responsibility, ethnic Baloch separatist groups are suspected due to their history of targeting both civilians and military forces in the region. Among these, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is a prominent insurgent faction, which the United States designated as a terrorist organisation in 2019.
Reacting strongly to the attack, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the targeting of schoolchildren, calling the perpetrators “beasts” undeserving of any leniency. “This act of sheer barbarism against innocent children is a direct attack on our humanity,” he said, promising swift justice.
Balochistan has long grappled with separatist violence and instability, with groups like the BLA waging an armed campaign for an independent Baloch homeland. Earlier this week, the BLA issued a statement threatening more strikes against the Pakistani army and its allies.
This school bus tragedy follows closely on the heels of another deadly car bombing in Qillah Abdullah, near the Afghan border, where an explosion near Jabbar Market killed four and wounded at least 20 others.
That blast, which occurred adjacent to the Frontier Corps Fort, also sparked an intense brief gunfight between FC personnel and unidentified attackers, further stoking fears of escalating violence in the region.
Just weeks earlier, on May 6, seven Pakistani soldiers lost their lives in Balochistan when their vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), allegedly planted by BLA militants. The continued wave of attacks has amplified concerns over security and insurgency in the province.
The authorities have stepped up security measures across Balochistan, particularly in areas near educational institutions, military installations, and public spaces.
- With inputs from agencies
