Suicide Bomb Targets School Bus in Balochistan, Killing 4 Children
A suicide bombing rocked Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on May 21, 2025, killing at least four children and injuring 38 others. The attack, which targeted a school bus in Khuzdar district, is one of the deadliest against children in the region in recent years. Pakistan has alleged Indian involvement, drawing immediate denials from New Delhi.
Suicide Bomber Hits Military-Linked School Bus
The attack occurred early morning as a bus was ferrying students to a military-run educational institution in Khuzdar. The bomber, driving an explosive-laden vehicle, rammed into the bus, resulting in a massive explosion that killed three girls and one boy, all aged between 12 and 16. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and devastation, with the charred remains of the bus littering the roadside.
Hospital authorities confirmed that many of the injured were in critical condition. Several children were airlifted to Quetta for emergency treatment due to the severity of their burns and blast injuries.
Pakistan Blames India; Points to BLA
Shortly after the attack, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the bombing as an act of “sheer barbarism,” vowing justice for the victims. In a press briefing, Pakistani officials alleged that the attack was orchestrated by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a US-designated terrorist group, and claimed the group acted at the behest of Indian intelligence.
“The use of children as targets in a proxy war is the height of depravity,” Naqvi stated, echoing the government’s long-standing narrative of foreign interference in Balochistan.
India Categorically Rejects Accusations
India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the allegations as “absurd and baseless,” stating that Pakistan was attempting to deflect blame from its deteriorating internal security situation. “This is a predictable attempt by Islamabad to mislead the global community after failing to protect its own citizens,” the official statement read.
India has repeatedly denied accusations of involvement in Balochistan, maintaining that its interests in the region are limited to observing human rights abuses and regional security.
Global Condemnation of the Attack
The suicide bombing drew strong condemnation from international organizations and diplomatic missions. The US Embassy in Islamabad, UNICEF, and several EU representatives issued statements denouncing the targeting of schoolchildren. UNICEF’s statement read, “No child should ever fear going to school. We call for the protection of all children in conflict zones.”
The global outcry has placed renewed pressure on Pakistan to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities in insurgency-hit provinces.
Escalating Tensions Amid Regional Volatility
The incident has further strained India-Pakistan relations at a time when both nations are already on edge following the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Indian military operations. Balochistan, long viewed as a separatist battleground, has seen frequent insurgent violence. However, direct targeting of schoolchildren in this manner marks a grim escalation.
With India rejecting blame and Pakistan doubling down on its claims, the episode is likely to further polarize diplomatic channels. Meanwhile, the families of the young victims await justice in a province long caught between geopolitical narratives and on-ground violence.
