In a powerful symbol of grief and resolve, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf led a delegation to Pakistan carrying blood-soaked school bags, shoes, and photos of young victims from the devastating Minab school airstrike, referring to them as his "companions" on the flight.

The special flight, dubbed "Minab 168" after the reported death toll, departed for Islamabad amid tight security for high-level US-Iran ceasefire negotiations. Ghalibaf posted an image of the plane's front seats adorned with white flowers, stained children's backpacks, tiny sneakers, and portraits of girls aged 7-12 killed in the February 28 strike on Shajareh Tayyibeh Girls Elementary School in southern Iran. Iranian authorities attribute the attack—believed to be the war's first major civilian hit—to US-Israel airstrikes that collapsed the school, trapping students, teachers, and parents.

The gesture amplifies Iran's demand for accountability as talks unfold in lockdown-secured Islamabad, with US envoy JD Vance also reportedly en route. "These are my companions on this flight," Ghalibaf captioned the photo, transforming the journey into a rolling memorial that underscores the human cost of escalation. Sources say the items were recovered from the rubble, serving as visceral props to press for justice, reparations, and inquiries into alleged war crimes.

The Minab incident, which claimed at least 168 lives, has fueled anti-war sentiment across the region, with Iran's embassy in South Africa vowing: "We will never forget the children of Minab." As broader US-Israel-Iran hostilities simmer, these talks could pave the way for de-escalation, stabilizing oil markets and trade routes vital to South Asia. Outcomes remain uncertain, but the bloodied bags ensure the victims' stories dominate the dialogue—no deal can proceed without confronting this tragedy head-on.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.