Four children among six people martyred in Khuzdar school bus attack
Six people, including four children, were martyred after terrorists targeted a school bus with a bomb blast in Khuzdar on Wednesday morning, the government blamed India for supporting the attack, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The bus driver and his assistant were among those killed in the attack in Khuzdar district of Balochistan, on the way to a school.
Over 40 schoolchildren were also injured in the terrorist attack which was carried out by the Indian agents, said the ISPR in a statement released in Rawalpindi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused arch-rival India of backing the militants that carried out the attack, coming almost two weeks after the two sides settled a ceasefire to end their most serious conflict in decades.
"Terrorists operating under Indian patronage attacking innocent children on a school bus is clear evidence of their hostility," his statement added.
The military also said in a statement that the attack was "planned and orchestrated" by India.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for Wednesday's bombing.
The deceased children included sixth grader Sania Soomro, seventh grader Hifza Kausar and 10th grader Isha.
Images shared on social media showed the shattered remains of a school bus and a pile of school bags nearby.
India, after having suffered defeat at the hands of the Pakistan military in recent military confrontation, has now resorted to targeting innocent civilians, including innocent children, who have nothing to do with conflicts, the ISPR said and added India’s proxies are now carrying out terror attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Those responsible for the heinous crime will be brought to justice and the ugly face of India will be laid bare before the whole world, the statement said.
The entire Pakistani nation and the armed forces are united against Indian terrorism.
Khuzdar Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal Dashti told newsmen that the blast occurred when the school bus was travelling near Zero Point area.
The bodies and the injured were taken to a nearby hospital, from where the seriously injured were referred to medical facilities in Quetta and Karachi, the DC said.
"A bus carrying children of the APS (Army Public School) was targeted with a bomb, the nature of which is still being determined," Yasir Iqbal Dashti told AFP.
"The initial probe suggests it was a suicide bombing," he added.
Police, the Frontier Corps (FC) and other law enforcement agencies’ personnel rushed to the site of the incident to collect evidence.
PM Shehbaz, Mohsin Naqvi condemn blast
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned deadly attack on a school bus in Khuzdar.
The Prime Minister said that these terrorists are working under the Indian patronage. The Prime Minister expressed heartfelt grief and sorrow with the families of children who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
The Prime Minister directed relevant officials to take strict action against terrorists who are involved in this brutal attack.
He also directed to provide best medical facilities to injured persons. The Prime Minister said that all measures will be adopted to award exemplary punishments to these terrorists.
The Prime Minister said that these terrorists with Indian support trying to destabilize Balochistan and want to create law and order situation.
The Prime Minister said that he and entire nation stand with the families of these innocent children.
He said that entire nation is united to defeat terrorists in war against terrorism.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the “explosion inside the bus near Khuzdar Zero Point”.
In a statement, Mohsin Naqvi expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of children, and extended his condolences to their families.
“The beasts who target innocent children do not deserve any leniency. The enemy demonstrated barbarity by attacking innocent children,” Naqvi asserted.
“The attack on the school bus is a heinous conspiracy of the enemy to create instability in the country. With the unity of the nation, we will foil every conspiracy,” the interior minister vowed.
The federal minister also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and vowed that the perpetrators of this heinous crime would be brought to justice.
وفاقی وزیرداخلہ محسن نقوی کی خضدار زیرو پوائنٹ کے قریب بس میں دھماکے کی پرزور مذمت
— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) May 21, 2025
وزیرداخلہ کا 4 بچوں کے جاں بحق ہونے کےواقعہ پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار
جاں بحق بچوں کے لواحقین سے دلی ہمدردی و اظہار تعزیت
معصوم بچوں کو نشانہ بنانے والے درندےکسی رعایت کے مستحق نہیں۔
Reporters Essa Tarin and Awais Kiyani