Khuzdar attack is intolerable, Ishaq Dar warns India

The recent terrorist attack on a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan, which resulted in the tragic deaths of innocent schoolgirls, was strongly condemned by lawmakers in the Senate on Thursday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar termed the attack “intolerable” and warned Indian-backed proxies to halt their hostile actions.

While addressing the Senate, Dar described the attack as “highly condemnable” and urged national unity to devise a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism. “India should learn from its past incidents and avoid such practices,” Dar said. He referenced the 2014 Army Public School (APS) tragedy and emphasized the importance of eliminating terrorism from both Pakistan and the region. He also revealed that the issue of terrorism was discussed during his recent diplomatic visit to China.

In addition to addressing security concerns, Dar introduced a resolution to observe May 25 as “Pakistan-Africa Friendship Day”. He praised African nations for their successful freedom movements and highlighted Pakistan’s support, particularly through the United Nations peacekeeping missions in countries such as Rwanda, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. The resolution aims to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy between Pakistan and African nations.

Senators Call for Strong Response Against Terrorism

PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui directly accused India of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, specifically pointing to its alleged involvement in the Khuzdar attack. “India is providing money and training to terrorists. Their tactics have failed, and we have responded effectively,” he stated. He warned that a revolution born from the blood of these young victims would have severe consequences for India.

Barrister Ali Zafar also held India responsible for multiple terrorist incidents and called for zero tolerance toward terrorism. “We are a peace-loving nation, but we must take strong action. Innocent schoolgirls were targeted — this is unacceptable,” he said. Zafar also raised concerns over India’s violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, adding that any further attempts to block water to Pakistan would not be tolerated. “The Kashmir issue and water disputes must be resolved under UN resolutions,” he emphasized.

Sherry Rehman Demands Ruthless Anti-Terror Operation

Senator Sherry Rehman described the attack in Khuzdar as a “replica of the APS tragedy” and labeled the targeting of schoolchildren as an “inhumane act.” She accused India of supporting militant groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). “We need a full-fledged and ruthless operation against terrorists,” she declared. Rehman also referred to the 2008 attack on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s convoy as an example of repeated targeting of political and civilian lives.

Lawmakers across party lines agreed that terrorism must be eliminated and foreign-backed plots against Pakistan must be dealt with firmly. The government is expected to consider new counterterrorism measures in the coming weeks.