Khuzdar, Pakistan (National Times): A suicide car bomber rammed into a school bus in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan on Wednesday morning, killing at least four schoolchildren and injuring 38 others, according to officials. The tragedy occurred in Khuzdar district as the bus was en route to a military-run school.
Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal confirmed the attack and said the blast caused widespread panic and devastation. “The children were on their way to school when the suicide bomber struck. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and the injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals,” Iqbal told reporters.
The area has been cordoned off as investigators comb through the blast site. While no group has immediately claimed responsibility, security officials suspect the involvement of Baloch separatist outfits, which have increasingly targeted security and civilian infrastructure in the province. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), designated a terrorist group by the U.S. in 2019, has been behind many previous attacks.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack in the strongest terms, expressing grief and outrage over the loss of innocent lives. “Only beasts can commit such barbarity by targeting schoolchildren. This heinous act will not go unpunished,” he said, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns about the security situation in Balochistan and the growing vulnerability of civilians, especially children, in ongoing militant violence. Security has been tightened in and around Khuzdar following the attack.
