ISTANBUL

Türkiye condemned a suicide attack Wednesday on a school bus in southwestern Pakistan that killed five people, including children.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives, including children, and many injuries caused by the terrorist attack that took place today in Pakistan's Balochistan province," said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

"We condemn this heinous attack, wish Allah's mercy upon those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the injured," it added.

The statement reiterated Ankara's "principled stance against all forms and manifestations of terrorism."

It underlined the importance of cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts in South Asia.

At least five people were killed, including three children, and around 38 injured in an explosion that targeted a school bus in the city of Khuzdar in Balochistan province, according to the Pakistani army.

The army said the attack was "planned and orchestrated by India and executed by its proxies" in Balochistan and targeted innocent school children.

"These Indian terror proxies are being employed as a state tool...to foment terrorism in Pakistan against soft targets such as innocent children and civilians," it added.​​​​​​​

New Delhi, however, rejected the claims.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has carried out similar attacks that have targeted civilians and security forces.