A tragic suicide bombing took place in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on 21 May, when a car packed with explosives rammed into a school bus in the Khuzdar district. The attack claimed the lives of at least four children and injured 38 others, according to reports by the Associated Press, citing local officials. The bus, which was carrying students from the Army Public School (APS), was targeted near Zero Point while en route to school. Yasir Iqbal Dashti, a senior government official, confirmed that the nature of the bomb is still under investigation.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack, calling it an act of “sheer barbarism” and labeling the perpetrators as “beasts” undeserving of any leniency. While no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, suspicion has fallen on local separatist factions. The Balochistan region has long been plagued by insurgent violence, and groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)—designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 2019—have a history of targeting both civilians and security forces in the area.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is known to claim responsibility for many such violent incidents in the region. In one of the most brutal attacks to date, which occurred in March, BLA militants targeted a passenger train traveling through Balochistan. The assault resulted in the deaths of 33 people, the majority of whom were soldiers. The attack highlighted the persistent threat posed by insurgents and the ongoing instability in the province.