A suicide car bomb struck a school bus in Khuzdar district, Balochistan, on Wednesday morning, killing four children and injuring at least 38 others, according to officials cited by the Associated Press.
The school bus was en route with students when the attack occurred. The assailant drove an explosive-laden car directly into the vehicle, causing a massive blast.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the brutal attack. However, suspicion is likely to fall on ethnic Baloch separatist groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has previously targeted both civilians and security forces in the region.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the bombing, calling it an act of “sheer barbarism.” He said the attackers were “beasts” who deserve no mercy, and he extended condolences to the families of the victims.
The region of Balochistan has long been plagued by insurgency and separatist violence. Groups like the BLA, which the United States designated as a terrorist organization in 2019, continue to carry out attacks. The BLA recently vowed to escalate its violence, claiming it was laying the foundation for an independent Balochistan.
This attack comes amid a surge in terror incidents in Balochistan:
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May 6: A Pakistani military convoy was hit by an IED, killing seven soldiers, reportedly at the hands of the BLA.
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Last week: A car bomb exploded near Jabbar Market in Qillah Abdullah, killing four and injuring 20. The blast occurred next to the Frontier Corps (FC) Fort, leading to a brief exchange of gunfire with attackers.
The latest school bus bombing adds to the growing list of atrocities in the region, underlining the urgent need for enhanced security measures and diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of the insurgency.
Security agencies have launched an investigation and are combing through the wreckage for forensic evidence. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of foreign involvement in fomenting unrest in the restive province.
This tragic incident underscores the fragile security situation in southwestern Pakistan, particularly for vulnerable groups like schoolchildren, and raises alarm about the growing boldness of militant operations.
