New Delhi [India]: India has strongly denied Pakistan’s accusations of involvement in the recent terrorist attack on a school bus in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, calling them “baseless” and part of a habitual effort to shift blame for internal unrest.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued a firm statement rejecting the allegations and expressing condolences for the victims.
“India rejects the baseless allegations made by Pakistan regarding Indian involvement with the incident in Khuzdar earlier today. India condoles the loss of lives in all such incidents,” Jaiswal said.
“However, in order to divert attention from its reputation as the global epicentre of terrorism and to hide its own gross failings, it has become second nature for Pakistan to blame India for all its internal issues. This attempt to hoodwink the world is doomed to fail.”
The Attack in Khuzdar
The devastating blast, which occurred earlier Wednesday, targeted a school bus in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan province, killing at least six people, including four children, and injuring 38 others.
According to Al Jazeera, the explosion struck the bus while it was picking up students for the Army Public School in the region. Officials confirmed that 46 students were onboard, and critically injured children were airlifted to Quetta for treatment.
“We have been air-lifting the critically injured children to Quetta from Khuzdar,” said Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti. He added that the blast was likely caused by a vehicle-borne IED but emphasized it was too early to confirm details.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.
Pakistan’s Unsubstantiated Accusations
Despite providing no concrete evidence, both Pakistan’s military and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif blamed “Indian terror proxies” for the blast.
The military issued a statement condemning the attack and alleging foreign involvement, while Sharif accused “terrorists working under Indian patronage” of carrying out the bombing.
Context: Escalating Violence in Balochistan
Balochistan, rich in minerals and natural resources, has long witnessed conflict between ethnic Baloch separatists and the Pakistani state. Separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have been active in the region, targeting government and military installations.
This week’s school bus bombing follows a car explosion in Qillah Abdullah, which killed four people. In March, a BLA-led train attack killed 33, mostly soldiers.
The group has vowed to escalate attacks, claiming its fight aims to establish an independent Balochistan.
India’s Firm Stance
India’s response underscores its continued rejection of Pakistan’s diplomatic and rhetorical attempts to link India to acts of domestic terrorism in Pakistan. The MEA emphasized that global awareness of Pakistan’s terror links makes such blame games futile.