A devastating suicide bombing targeted a school bus in Pakistan’s Khuzdar district, Balochistan province, on Wednesday, killing five people, including three students, and injuring 40 others, according to local authorities.

The attack, condemned by the Pakistani military, occurred when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle near the bus in the Zero Point area, completely destroying the vehicle.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, denounced the “heinous” attack on “innocent school-going children” and vowed to pursue the “planners, abettors, and executors” to bring them to justice. Khuzdar Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal Dashti confirmed the death toll and reported that the injured, including students and staff, were rushed to nearby hospitals by rescue teams and law enforcement.

Authorities have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the attack. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, pledging that “no efforts will be spared to thwart the nefarious intentions of terrorists to disrupt the peace of Balochistan.”

The incident has heightened concerns about security in the region, as authorities work to ensure the safety of civilians and prevent further violence. (ILKHA)