PM Shehbaz, COAS Asim Munir vow justice after Khuzdar school bus attack

QUETTA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and others visited Quetta to inquire about the health of the children injured in a bomb blast in Khuzdar.

In a tragic incident of terrorism, a school bus carrying children was targeted in Khuzdar. The attack claimed the lives of three children and two soldiers, and left 53 others injured, including 39 children — eight of whom are in critical condition.

Authorities have blamed the attack on India-backed proxy group “Fitna Al Hindustan” accusing it of furthering instability in the region.

The Balochistan chief minister of and the Commander of Quetta Corps briefed the PM on the incident.

The leaders expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and condemned the attack as a cowardly and shameful act. While visiting the wounded children, they described the attack as part of a broader campaign of foreign-sponsored terrorism aimed at destabilizing Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Officials highlighted that such terrorist outfits —operating under the guise of ethnic causes — are being exploited as instruments of Indian state policy.

They emphasized that this narrative stands in stark contrast to the values of the Baloch and Pashtun communities, who have historically rejected extremism and violence.

“These terrorist groups—masquerading under ethnic pretenses—are not only being exploited by India as instruments of state policy, but also stand as a stain on the honour and values of the Baloch and Pashtun people, who have long rejected violence and extremism,” said official statement issued from Prime Minister’s Office.

The prime minister called on the international community to take notice of what he termed India’s morally indefensible strategy of targeting civilians, particularly children. He stated that the use of terrorism as a tool of foreign policy must be condemned and countered globally.

“India’s reliance on such morally indefensible tactics, particularly the deliberate targeting of children, demands urgent attention from the international community. The use of terrorism as a tool of foreign policy must be unequivocally condemned and confronted,” the statement added.

Pakistan’s security forces have pledged to pursue and bring to justice all those involved in orchestrating the attack. Officials vowed that the masterminds, collaborators, and facilitators will be held accountable.

“Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will relentlessly pursue all those involved in this barbaric act. The architects, abettors, and enablers of this crime will be held accountable and brought to justice and the truth about India’s cunning role, a real perpetrator of terrorism but feigns as a victim, stands exposed before the world,” the statement said reflecting Pakistan’s resolve against anti-state elements.

Reaffirming national unity, the prime minister stated that the entire country stands behind its armed forces and law enforcement agencies in the fight to eliminate terrorism and defend Pakistan’s sovereignty.

“The prime minister expressed that entire nation stands resolute behind its Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies in the collective will to eradicate the scourge of terrorism as well as safeguard the sovereignty and security of Pakistan.”

The prime minister and field marshal highlighted that it’s now time, that the nation displays a very strong resolve similar to the one shown recently against the aggression by India, to bring the fight against foreign-sponsored terrorism to its logical and decisive end.