Suicide Bomber Targets School Bus in Pakistan, Killing 5 Including Children

A suicide car bomber targeted a school bus in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Wednesday, killing five, including three children, and injuring 38 others. The attack, which occurred on the outskirts of Khuduzar as the bus ferried students to a military-run school, underscores the region’s persistent unrest. Balochistan’s volatile history of insurgency, driven by groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), casts a long shadow over this tragedy, with no group yet claiming responsibility.

Local official Yasir Iqbal confirmed the attack’s devastating toll, while ambulances rushed victims to hospitals, some in critical condition. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attackers as "beasts" for targeting innocent children, vowing no mercy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed this, pointing fingers at India, alleging their backing of such violence without evidence—a claim India denies. Tensions between the two nations, already strained over Kashmir, fuel these accusations.

The military labeled the bombing a "cowardly and ghastly" act, suggesting foreign proxies at play. This attack, amid recent cross-border escalations, highlights the fragile security in Balochistan and the broader geopolitical chess game. As the death toll may rise, the loss of young lives demands not just condemnation but answers.