Deadly Blast Hits School Bus in Balochistan, Killing Six and Injuring Many
A devastating explosion struck a school bus in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Wednesday, killing at least six people and injuring dozens more in what authorities believe was a targeted attack.
The blast occurred in the Khuzdar district as the vehicle—belonging to the Army Public School—was on its morning route to pick up students.
Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, confirmed the fatalities, which include four children, the bus driver, and his assistant.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Yasir Iqbal Dashti, a senior local official, said that at least 38 others were wounded in the attack. “The bus was transporting schoolchildren when it was hit,” he said.
Initial investigations suggest that the bus was struck by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED), Bugti revealed during a press briefing in Quetta. “There were 46 students on board,” he noted, adding that several critically injured children were being airlifted to Quetta for urgent medical care.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Pakistan’s military swiftly condemned the bombing, attributing it to what it called “Indian terror proxies”—a claim made without accompanying evidence.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed the military’s accusation, condemning the “heinous act by terrorists operating under Indian patronage,” and extended heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims.
India, however, dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” accusing Pakistan of deflecting blame. “India condoles the loss of lives in all such incidents.
However, this habitual finger-pointing reflects Pakistan’s attempt to divert attention from its own failings and status as the global epicentre of terrorism,” read an official statement from New Delhi.
Authorities warn that the death toll could rise due to the severity of the injuries sustained in the explosion. Emergency services remain on high alert, and investigations into the nature and perpetrators of the attack are ongoing.
