Pakistan’s Minister of Interior disclosed that a suicide bomber set off his explosives close to a police vehicle outside the precinct of a district court in Islamabad, the nation’s capital, causing the death of 12 individuals and injuring 27 others on Tuesday. The Minister stated that the assailant attempted to breach the court premises but resorted to targeting a police vehicle instead. The explosion, confirmed to be triggered by a suicide bomber by police investigators, reverberated for kilometers, occurring during a bustling time outside the court when numerous visitors were present.
A faction splintered from the Pakistani Taliban, known as Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, asserted responsibility for the assault through messages from their leader, Omar Mukaram Khurasani. However, a prominent commander within the group, Sarbakaf Mohmand, disavowed any association with the attack. The group had separated from the Pakistani Taliban following the demise of its leader in Afghanistan in 2022. Despite some members rejoining the Taliban, internal discord persists among the insurgents. The Pakistani Taliban operates independently but aligns with the Afghan Taliban.
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, previously known for smaller attacks, striking the Pakistani capital could further challenge the government amidst a resurgence of the Pakistani Taliban, cross-border tensions, and a fragile truce with Afghanistan. Initial reports suggested a car bomb caused the explosion, with the Interior Minister alleging, without substantiation, that the assault was orchestrated by Indian-backed elements and Afghan Taliban proxies associated with the Pakistani Taliban. However, investigations into all facets of the incident are ongoing.
The attack garnered global condemnation, including statements from the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a thorough inquiry and emphasized holding all perpetrators of terrorism accountable. In response to Pakistan’s accusations, the official spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed them as unfounded, highlighting international awareness and rejection of Pakistan’s diversionary tactics.
As chaos ensued outside the court following the blast, police swiftly secured the area while smoke billowed into the sky. Most casualties were bystanders or individuals present for court engagements, as per Islamabad police. Severely injured individuals sought aid as ambulances rushed to the scene, with witnesses describing the chaotic scene of people fleeing in all directions. The discovery of a severed head near the site confirmed the suicide nature of the attack, as per the Interior Minister, who noted the bomber was captured on CCTV but not included in the death toll.
In a separate incident earlier on Tuesday, security forces thwarted an attempt by militants to seize cadets at an army-run college overnight, where a suicide car bomber and five other Pakistani Taliban members targeted the facility in a northwestern province. The assault commenced as a bomber tried to breach the cadet college in Wana, leading to an exchange of fire between militants and troops. The TTP denied involvement, with suspicions that many of its members have sought refuge in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s control of Kabul in 2021.
Escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been observed recently, with accusations and retaliations between the two nations. Brokering of ceasefires and peace talks have occurred, albeit with challenges, including Kabul’s refusal to commit to preventing militant groups from using Afghan territory against Pakistan. A prior ceasefire brokered by Kabul in 2022 collapsed amid accusations of Islamabad violating the terms, underscoring the complex and volatile dynamics between the two neighboring countries.