Seven people, including five children and a police officer, were killed and 17 others were injured in an explosion in southwestern Pakistan’s Balochistan province, local authorities and health officials confirmed the death toll, saying the children who died were between the ages of five and 12. The explosion occurred near a girls' high school in the town of Mastung, targeting a police van, according to officer Miandad Urmani. A motorcycle-mounted explosive device was detonated near the police vehicle.

Among the injured were four policemen, who were immediately transferred to local hospitals for medical attention. To date, no group has claimed responsibility for this attack. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and various ethnic Baloch separatist groups operate in the region; however, these groups tend not to claim attacks that result in civilian casualties, such as the one that occurred yesterday near the Mastung school.

Authorities are investigating the incident to identify the perpetrators of the attack and understand the motivations behind this violent act. The situation in the province of Balochistan has long been characterized by instability and conflict, with frequent attacks targeting security forces and the local population. This episode highlights the vulnerability of the community, especially the young, in contexts where violence is the order of the day.

The Pakistani government condemned the attack and vowed to step up efforts to ensure security in the region. Locals live in constant fear of further attacks, while authorities try to maintain law and order in an area already heavily affected by terrorism and ethnic tensions. Events like this require careful monitoring and preventative measures to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.