Security Forces to Relentlessly Pursue Culprits of Khuzdar School Van Attack

Pakistan’s security forces have pledged an unyielding pursuit of the perpetrators behind a devastating terror attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan, which claimed the lives of five people, including three children, and injured dozens more.

The tragic incident prompted an urgent visit to Quetta by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. In the wake of the attack, a joint statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) condemned the “barbaric act” and vowed that justice would be served.

“Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will relentlessly pursue all those involved,” the statement said, accusing India of orchestrating the attack through its “state-sponsored proxies,” referred to as “Fitna al Hindustan.”

A Targeted Act of Terror:

According to officials, the school bus was targeted near Khuzdar Zero Point, resulting in the deaths of three children and two soldiers, and injuring 53 others, including 39 children. Eight of the injured remain in critical condition.

Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal Dashti confirmed that the initial investigation suggests it was a suicide bombing. Victims were taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Khuzdar, with those in serious condition transferred to Quetta and Karachi.

The Quetta Corps commander and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti briefed the high-level delegation on the incident and ongoing investigation efforts.

India Accused of Orchestrating the Attack:

The PMO’s statement squarely blamed India for the violence, accusing New Delhi of deploying terrorist proxies to destabilize Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It described the attack as part of a broader campaign of “state-sponsored terrorism” by India, particularly targeting civilians.

“India’s morally indefensible tactics, including targeting children, demand urgent attention from the international community,” the statement declared.

The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), echoed these claims in a strongly worded statement, saying the “cowardly and ghastly attack” was “planned and orchestrated by the terrorist state of India and executed by its proxies.”

National Unity and Retaliation

During his visit, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed the government’s support for the armed forces and emphasized national unity in the face of such atrocities.

“The entire nation stands resolute with our brave security forces. Just as we defeated Indian aggression recently, we will bring this battle against foreign-sponsored terrorism to a decisive end,” he stated.

Field Marshal Asim Munir also reinforced the army’s resolve to eliminate terrorist threats, adding that those responsible for the Khuzdar attack will be hunted down and brought to justice.

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Pattern of Escalation:

This attack follows a string of violent engagements in the region. Earlier this week, the ISPR reported that 12 militants from Indian-backed outfits were killed during operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Last month, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry accused India of reactivating sleeper cells and terrorist networks to escalate violence in Pakistan.

ISPR concluded its statement by denouncing the Indian government’s alleged use of terrorism as a tool of foreign policy, calling it “abhorrent” and a violation of basic human values.

“Pakistan’s armed forces, supported by the nation, are fully committed to eradicating Indian-sponsored terrorism in all its forms,” the ISPR stated.

“This attack on our children is not just an act of terror, it’s an attack on humanity. Pakistan will not rest until every hand behind it is exposed and held accountable.” — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan’s leadership and civil society have condemned the heinous terrorist attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan, that claimed the lives of four children and injured over 40 others, as the government and military vow justice and accountability for what officials are calling “Indian-sponsored terrorism.”

The attack, which took place near Khuzdar Zero Point, has sparked outrage and sorrow across the country, with high-ranking officials labeling the act a barbaric attempt to destabilize the region and instill fear among civilians.

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Irrefutable Evidence of Indian Involvement:

Speaking on the incident, military and civilian leaders pointed to the arrest of a Pakistani terror suspect allegedly trained by Indian personnel as concrete proof of state-backed terrorism.

“This is irrefutable evidence of India’s use of terrorism as a state policy,” said one senior security official, referring to intelligence indicating Indian military involvement in organizing attacks through proxies inside Pakistan.

Condemnation from National Leadership:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labeled the attack as “cowardly” and “inhumane,” particularly targeting schoolchildren in a region that has long struggled for development and stability.

“This was an assault not just on innocent lives, but on the future of Balochistan. The terrorists have crossed all limits of barbarity,” the PM said in a statement, expressing solidarity with the bereaved families and instructing security forces to swiftly bring those responsible to justice.

President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the incident, calling it a “heinous crime” and pledging to expose what he termed as “Indian-backed terrorism” at international forums.

“These terrorists do not want Balochistan to prosper. Their actions reflect a deep-seated hatred for peace, progress, and education,” Zardari said.

International Alarm Over State-Sponsored Violence:

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar extended prayers for the victims and stressed that those who orchestrated the attack would be held accountable.

“This is not just Pakistan’s tragedy. The international community must recognize and respond to the growing threat posed by India’s use of terrorism as foreign policy,” Dar said.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed these sentiments, denouncing the attack as an attempt to derail national stability.

“The beasts who target innocent children deserve no mercy. This act is a clear conspiracy to spread chaos in Pakistan, and we will confront it with national unity,” Naqvi asserted, also praying for the swift recovery of those injured.

Balochistan Leadership Stands Firm:

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, while addressing the media, confirmed that 42 individuals were injured in the blast and four children lost their lives. He reiterated that the province’s security apparatus had prior intelligence on the threat, though the deliberate targeting of children marked a new and shocking low.

“We had credible intel of Indian planning in Balochistan. However, no one expected them to target schoolchildren. This reveals the cowardice and moral decay of our adversaries,” Bugti stated.

Bugti also mentioned Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Adviser, as being behind the planning of subversive operations in Balochistan.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the CM linked the attack to India’s humiliation in the recent Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, suggesting that India had shifted to targeting civilians following its battlefield failure.

Unified Political Response:

Leaders across the political and security spectrum expressed unity and support for the military’s ongoing counter-terror operations.

• Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, and Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind all decried the incident as a cowardly and strategic move by India to stoke unrest.

• Rind labeled it the “hideous face of Indian state-sponsored terrorism”, calling on the global community to take notice.

“India’s use of terrorism as a state policy is a threat to global peace and regional stability,” Rind declared.

“No nation that targets children can claim to be civilized. This attack has only strengthened our resolve to eliminate terrorism and expose its sponsors.”

— Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi

Moving Forward:

As the country mourns the young lives lost in the attack, the government has committed to providing full medical care to the wounded and support to affected families. Security operations across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have intensified in recent days, targeting alleged Indian-backed terror cells.

With renewed resolve and growing evidence of foreign-sponsored subversion, Pakistan’s leadership is preparing to raise the issue on international platforms, calling for accountability and stronger global cooperation against terrorism in all its forms.

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