Explosion Kills Six Including Children in Balochistan School Bus Attack

A suicide bombing targeting a school bus carrying students from the Army Public School in Khuzdar district, Balochistan, Pakistan, killed at least five to six people, including three to four children, and injured dozens more. The attack, which occurred amid escalating violence in the restive province known for its separatist insurgency, has been condemned by Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who accused India of supporting the militants behind the bombing, though no group has definitively claimed responsibility. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group seeking independence for Balochistan, claimed the attack but stated the bus was transporting soldiers. The incident reflects ongoing instability in Balochistan, a strategic and mineral-rich region with significant Chinese investment, which has seen a surge in militant violence including previous attacks by the BLA on security forces and infrastructure. The attack has drawn comparisons to the 2014 Peshawar school massacre and highlights the challenges facing Pakistani authorities in maintaining security amid complex regional tensions and longstanding insurgencies. Officials fear the death toll may rise as many of the injured remain in critical condition.