At least five people, including three children, were killed on Monday morning in a devastating school bus explosion near Khuzdar, a remote town in Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province. The blast, which occurred at around 07:40 local time (02:40 GMT), injured dozens more and left scenes of destruction and grief.
The bus was reportedly carrying about 40 school children when the explosion tore through it, leaving behind charred wreckage and scattered backpacks. Images circulating on social media show the burned-out vehicle, a grim reminder of the region’s ongoing volatility. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, and no group has yet claimed responsibility.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack as “sheer barbarism,” blaming unnamed “beasts” for targeting innocent children in an attempt to destabilise the country. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation, with calls for enhanced security measures and swift justice.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, has long been marred by insurgency, sectarian violence, and human rights abuses. Separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which seeks independence for the ethnic Baloch people, have claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks in the past. The BLA was behind a deadly train siege in March that killed 25 people, including civilians and military personnel.
Pakistan’s military has accused neighbouring India of supporting militant groups in Balochistan, including the BLA, though these claims are unproven and strongly denied by New Delhi. This incident follows heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, who recently emerged from a two-week conflict triggered by a deadly attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Baloch activists continue to accuse Pakistan’s security forces of widespread abuses, including enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Thousands of ethnic Baloch are believed to have vanished over the past two decades, allegedly targeted during counterinsurgency operations.
The school bus explosion has reignited debate over the region’s fragile security and deep-seated political grievances. As investigations continue, the tragedy underscores the need for a lasting resolution to Balochistan’s protracted crisis one that ensures both justice for victims and accountability for all parties involved.
