India-backed terrorists martyr six, including children, in Khuzdar school bus bombing

• More than 30 injured, critical shifted to CMH Quetta.
• Authorities directed to ensure attackers apprehended.
• Attack reflects India's low morality, stresses ISPR.

A powerful explosion near Zero Point in Khuzdar, Balochistan, targeted a school bus on Wednesday, martyring six, including four students, and injuring dozens of others, the province's chief minister said, drawing condemnations from across the country.

Terrorists targeted the school bus as it was heading towards the educational institute with more than 40 students on board in the district of Balochistan, which is among the worst terror-hit provinces.

Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti told reporters that the six martyred, including four children, the bus driver, and his assistant, while those critically injured were being transported via air to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Quetta. Khuzdar's deputy commissioner said that more than 30 individuals sustained injuries in the blast. 

Separately, fourteen individuals injured in the terrorist attack were transferred to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Quetta. Among them are a woman, a man, and twelve children. The CMH administration has said that some of the injured are in critical condition.

The government has said that Indian-backed militants carried out the attack, coming almost two weeks after the two sides settled a ceasefire to end their most serious conflict in decades.

Security sources identified three of the martyred as grade six student Sania Soomoro, grade seven's Hifza Kousar, and grade 10's Esha Saleem.

The military's media wing, in a statement, said: "In yet another cowardly and ghastly attack planned and orchestrated by [the] terrorist state of India and executed by its proxies in Balochistan, [an] innocent school-going children bus was targeted today in Khuzdar."

The ISPR said that after having miserably failed on the battlefield, through these most heinous and cowardly such like acts, Indian proxies have been unleashed to spread terror and unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Having failed following Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos and being hunted by military and law enforcement agencies, the ISPR said, these Indian terror proxies are being employed as a state tool by India to foment terrorism in Pakistan against soft targets such as innocent children and civilians.

"[The] use of terrorism as a state policy by the Indian political government is abhorrent and reflective of their low morality and disregard for basic human norms," the ISPR noted.

Planners, abettors, and executors of this cowardly Indian-sponsored attack will be hunted down and brought to justice, and the heinous face of India will be exposed in front of the entire world.

"Pakistan Armed Forces, with the support of a brave Pakistani nation, stand united to uproot Indian-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan in its all manifestations."

'Concrete intelligence'

Balochistan Chief Minister Bugti, during a press conference in Quetta, strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a school bus in Khuzdar. He revealed that 44 children were on board the bus targeted in the attack. "There was concrete intelligence about such an incident," said the chief minister, adding, “However, we did not expect that innocent children would be targeted.”

“The children were brutally martyred and injured,” Bugti said. “The enemy has stooped so low as to choose soft targets like innocent children.”

He said they were aware that the enemy could choose Balochistan in an attempt to overcome the humiliation of defeat in warfare. “We will avenge the blood of these children,” the chief minister vowed.

Bugti said that the terrorists involved in past incidents — including the train attack and the Nushki incident — were sent to hell, and those behind this recent tragedy would face the same fate.

“The government and the state will hunt down each and every one of those responsible and send them to hell,” he added.

“These people take money from India to target innocent citizens,” Bugti alleged. He also reminded the Afghan interim government that its territory was repeatedly being used against Pakistan.

“Terrorists are proxies of India,” the Balochistan chief minister reiterated. He called on the public to understand the war on terrorism and warned against mislabelling terrorism and violence under different names. “We must come out of that mindset,” he said.

“We can eliminate these people one by one. These terrorists do not have the capacity — the state can do everything,” Bugti asserted. “Now is the time to make a decision. We will no longer remain silent spectators.”

The chief minister said preliminary information suggested that the Khuzdar blast was not a suicide bombing but an IED attack. “Further facts will come to light after the investigation,” he added.

Speaking on internal security operations, Bugti said that during the Swat operation, people were relocated for their safety. “We do not want to relocate people again,” he said, adding that peace was established in Swat due to the sacrifices made by its residents.

Bugti also shared last year’s statistics, stating that over 280 terrorists were killed and many were arrested. “We have introduced the Anti-Terrorism Act,” he said, reiterating that the war against terrorism must be fought collectively.

'Heinous, inhuman crime'

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the Indian-backed terrorist attack in Khuzdar, calling the assault on schoolchildren a “heinous and inhuman crime.” He expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of three children and two adults, and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

The president said that the attack on school-going children proved that terrorists are enemies of education, humanity, and Pakistan’s development. He asserted that the terrorists — backed by India — are determined to sabotage peace and prosperity in Balochistan. “We will completely eliminate Indian-backed terrorists,” he declared, vowing to expose India’s role in sponsoring terrorism on international platforms.

He reiterated that India continues to support terrorist networks for carrying out violence inside Pakistan. “Terrorists are enemies of Pakistan’s development and Balochistan’s prosperity,” the president said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned what he described as an Indian-sponsored terrorist attack. He expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of innocent schoolchildren and their teachers and extended sympathies to the bereaved families. 

The prime minister directed authorities to identify and apprehend those responsible, and ordered immediate and prioritised medical care for the injured.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq strongly condemned the attack on the school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan, expressing profound grief over the loss of innocent lives. He extended condolences and sympathy to the families of the martyred children and adults.

“This cowardly and shameful attack on innocent children is beyond condemnation. The perpetrators of such barbarism have no connection with any religion or humanity,” Sadiq said.

He pledged that those involved in this act of terrorism — including the planners and facilitators — would be brought to justice. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and for strength and patience for the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, calling the perpetrators “beasts who deserve no mercy.” He stated: “The enemy has shown its barbarism by attacking innocent children. Targeting a school bus is a despicable conspiracy aimed at destabilising the country.” He added that such cowardly acts would not break the resolve of the Pakistani nation.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal expressed his grief on the social media platform X, stating: “I am deeply saddened and outraged by the horrific attack this morning on a school bus in Khuzdar, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives, including three children and two adults.”

“This act of violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this dark time. We will ensure that those responsible are brought to justice,” he added.

The Government of Balochistan’s official account also issued a statement by Balochistan Chief Minister Bugti, declaring the incident a “crime against humanity.”

“It is clear that Indian agents are fueling hate and extremism in Balochistan. After being pushed back by Pakistan in the war, India is now resorting to such cowardly acts to disrupt the peace in the region,” it posted.

Charge d'Affaires Natalia Baker of the US embassy in Pakistan also condemned the "brutal, unconscionable attack" in a statement that was posted on social media.

"We grieve with the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts are with those recovering. No child should ever fear going to school. We stand with those in Pakistan working to end this violence," the statement read.