Blast targeting school bus kills four children in Pakistan’s Balochistan
NBCMAY 7
Pakistan: School Bus Attack in Balochistan Kills at Least 6
Above: Local residents gather at the site a day after a bomb blast in Qila Abdullah, in Balochistan, on May 19, 2025. Image copyright: Abdul Basit/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Pakistan narrative
The cowardly and ghastly attack is a clear escalation of Indian state-sponsored terrorism targeting innocent civilians in Pakistan. Following military setbacks, India has resorted to using proxy groups to destabilize Balochistan and create unrest. The deliberate targeting of innocent schoolchildren shows the enemy's desperation and willingness to violate all humanitarian norms to achieve its strategic objectives in the region. This is an attack on the soul of Pakistan, and Pakistan will bring the perpetrators justice.
Pro-India narrative
The accusations against India are unfounded and part of Pakistan's pattern of deflecting responsibility for its internal security challenges. The ongoing violence in Balochistan stems from decades of economic marginalization and political repression of the local population. Rather than addressing these root causes, protecting civilians, or pursuing meaningful dialogue with separatist groups, Pakistan consistently blames external actors. Though India strongly condemns the heinous attack, such barbarity will recur until Pakistan dismantles the terror infrastructure on its soil.