Two girls died, and six others were injured Thursday after gunmen opened fire at a school van in Attock city in Pakistan's Punjab province.

Pakistan – Gulf News

The police said the gunmen had personal enmity with the van driver's family, and the driver was the primary target of the attack. A search has been launched to capture the attackers.

AZ (Merge this with News.AZ)

Voice of America

The injured children, aged between five and 10, were hospitalized, but two of them reportedly couldn't be saved. The condition of two others remains critical.

The Indian Express

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in targeted attacks in recent years, especially in the northwestern region, which isn't far from Attock.

In 2014, the Taliban attacked a military school in northwestern Pakistan, killing nearly 150 children. In 2012, the militants attacked a school van in Swat and injured future Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Al Jazeera

Two girls died, and six others were injured Thursday after gunmen opened fire at a school van in Attock town of Pakistan's Punjab province.

Pakistan – Gulf News #

The police said the gunmen had personal enmity with the van driver's family, and he was the primary target of the attack. A search has been launched to capture the attackers.

AZ (Merge this with News.AZ) #

Voice of America #

The injured children, aged between five and 10, were hospitalized, but two of them couldn't be saved. The condition of two others remains critical.

The Indian Express #

In 2014, the Taliban attacked a military school in northwestern Pakistan, killing nearly 150 children. In 2012, the militants attacked a school van in Swat and injured Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Al Jazeera #

Violence, particularly the terrorism-fuelled kind, has profoundly impacted Pakistan's children over the decades, robbing them of a normal childhood. Besides causing countless deaths, it has displaced them and forced them into unstable, dangerous living conditions. Attendant malaises like health risks, malnutrition, and psychological trauma have only worsened their plight.

Cambridge Core

Cambridge Core #

Impacts of Terrorism on Children in Pakistan: A Case Study of Displaced Children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Chapter 7)

Thursday's tragic killing of two innocent children comes amid a surge in violent attacks in Pakistan, fuelled by intensified political friction. Worsening dynamics between the military and the country's various militant groups are causing widespread societal instability. And as usual, the victims mostly are the innocent, including children and women.

Al Jazeera #13735

What explains the dramatic rise in armed attacks in Pakistan?

There's a 50% chance that the global mortality rate for children under the age of 5 in 2025 will be at least 3.5%, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus2

Under 5 Years Child Mortality Rate

Veronique de Viguerie/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images

Pakistan: Two Children Killed in School Van Shooting

Pakistan

Terrorism

Children and youth

Violence, particularly the terrorism-fueled, has profoundly impacted Pakistan's children over the decades, robbing them of a normal childhood. Besides causing countless deaths, it has displaced them and forced them into unstable, dangerous living conditions. This only compounds other social stressors on Pakistan's children like health risks, malnutrition, and psychological trauma — this demands a holistic response.

Thursday's tragic killing of two innocent children comes amid a surge in violent attacks in Pakistan, worsened by intensified political friction. Deteriorating dynamics between the military and the country's various militant groups are causing widespread societal instability. The security dynamics must first be addressed in order to protect the socially vulnerable — including women and children.

Pakistan: Two Children Killed in School Van Shooting

Pakistan: Two Children Killed in School Van Shooting

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

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Pakistan: Two Children Killed in School Van Shooting

Pakistan: Two Children Killed in School Van Shooting

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

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