Three girls were killed and dozens injured in a suicide bombing targeting a school bus in Pakistan, with authorities blaming India-linked militants for the atrocity.
At a Glance
- A suicide car bomber struck a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan, killing 5 and wounding 53
- Three of the dead were girls aged 12 and 16, students of an Army Public School
- Pakistan accuses India of backing the attack through Baloch separatist proxies
- India denies involvement, calling the claims “baseless”
- The bombing has reignited fears of escalating violence in South Asia
A Targeted Attack on Innocence
A suicide car bombing in Khuzdar, Balochistan, has left Pakistan reeling. The attack struck a school bus carrying students to an Army Public School, killing three girls—Hifsa Kausar (12), Esha Saleem (16), and Sania Somroo (12)—along with a security guard and the driver. Another 53 were wounded, including 39 children, making it one of the deadliest school-targeted attacks since the 2014 Peshawar massacre.
Watch a report: Pakistan Horror: Suicide Bomb Hits School Bus in Balochistan
Local media and emergency footage showed the scorched remains of the vehicle and devastated bystanders as military and rescue personnel swarmed the site. Funerals held within hours drew hundreds of mourners, underscoring the raw emotional toll.
Accusations and Denials
Pakistan’s military and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif quickly pointed to Baloch separatists backed by India as the culprits. “Terrorists operating under Indian patronage attacking innocent children on a school bus is clear evidence of their hostility,” Sharif said, echoing military statements accusing India of using “terror proxies” to destabilize Pakistan.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs rejected the accusations, calling them “baseless allegations regarding Indian involvement in unrest in Pakistan.” The Balochistan Liberation Army, often blamed for insurgent activity in the province, has not claimed responsibility—a typical pattern when children are killed.
Echoes of Past Tragedy
The bombing immediately drew parallels to the 2014 Tehrik-i-Taliban attack in Peshawar, which left over 130 children dead. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Khuzdar bombing as “sheer barbarism by targeting innocent children,” vowing the perpetrators “will be hunted and held accountable.”
Pakistan has struggled to secure Balochistan, a region rich in natural resources but wracked by separatist violence. The strategic location of Khuzdar and the military-run school suggest the attackers intended both a symbolic and tactical blow.
A Region on Edge
This tragedy comes at a time of renewed military tension between India and Pakistan. In April, a militant assault in Indian-administered Kashmir set off a new round of accusations between the two nuclear powers. With this latest attack, fears mount over whether proxy violence could once again ignite direct confrontation.
Despite global condemnation, including from the United Nations, no coordinated international response has emerged. Pakistan has cordoned off the blast site and heightened military presence in Balochistan, signaling fears of more to come.
As the region reels from this heinous act, South Asia’s already fraught stability feels shakier than ever.
