The Khuzdar school bus attack on May 21 was not just an act of terror but a test of national will and leadership. When innocent children are killed on their way to school, the questions we must ask are not only who did it but why such attacks continue to happen. The answer lies partly in misplaced priorities and dangerously inflated egos driving regional policies.

The capture of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav in 2016 and his detailed confession about operating a network of sabotage in Pakistan remains a glaring reminder

Pakistan has pointed to Indian-backed proxies as the perpetrators behind the suicide bombing that claimed five lives and injured over fifty others. This is not the first time such accusations have been made. Pakistan has long maintained that India sponsors groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Majid Brigade to destabilize Balochistan. Despite strong denials from New Delhi, there is historical context that supports these concerns. The capture of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav in 2016 and his detailed confession about operating a network of sabotage in Pakistan remains a glaring reminder.

India’s refusal to engage seriously with Pakistan on peace and its persistent attempts to interfere through non-state actors reflect a policy rooted not in security but in a false sense of superiority

But this issue goes deeper than proof or denial. At the heart of this tragedy is a broader pattern of ego-driven regional competition where the lives of civilians become expendable. India’s refusal to engage seriously with Pakistan on peace and its persistent attempts to interfere through non-state actors reflect a policy rooted not in security but in a false sense of superiority.

What kind of mindset allows a country to use proxy groups to strike school buses? It is not strategic thinking. It is not diplomacy. It is the arrogance of thinking one can control chaos. The children killed in Khuzdar were not collateral in any war. They were casualties of unchecked ambition.

The world must see this for what it is – a state using terror as a foreign policy tool

Pakistan must now respond not just with condemnation but with clarity. There can be no compromise when it comes to the safety of our citizens especially our children. While military operations must target those responsible the government must also strengthen its diplomatic campaign. The world must see this for what it is – a state using terror as a foreign policy tool.

Moreover Pakistan must fix its own vulnerabilities. Development in Balochistan must go beyond rhetoric. Roads schools and hospitals must not only be built but protected. The people of Balochistan must know they are seen heard and defended. Because the more neglected the region remains the easier it becomes for hostile actors to exploit local grievances.

If the Khuzdar attack had happened in Europe or North America the outrage would have dominated headlines for weeks

The international community too must stop turning a blind eye. If the Khuzdar attack had happened in Europe or North America the outrage would have dominated headlines for weeks. Children dying in a school bus bombing should provoke the same response regardless of geography. Silence in the face of such crimes enables repetition.

It is time India is asked hard questions by the global community. If it seeks to be seen as a responsible regional power it must first stop acting like a bully. Ego must not be allowed to shape regional security policies. Humility honesty and dialogue are the tools of peace not coercion or covert violence.

The children of Khuzdar will be remembered not as victims of terror but as the reason Pakistan will never compromise on its peace or sovereignty

Pakistan must remain firm. Khuzdar was not an isolated event, it was part of a larger design. But the resilience of our people has always been greater than the plans of those who try to break us. The children of Khuzdar will be remembered not as victims of terror but as the reason Pakistan will never compromise on its peace or sovereignty.

This is not just about one attack. This is about the kind of region we want to live in. One driven by cooperation or by ego. Pakistan has made its choice. Now the world must make its own.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.