ISLAMABAD — On Tuesday, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive near a police vehicle outside a local court in Islamabad, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals, as reported by Pakistan’s interior minister.
While no group has taken immediate responsibility for the blast that injured at least 27 others, authorities are grappling with a resurgence of the Pakistani Taliban, alongside border tensions and an uneasy ceasefire with Afghanistan.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos following the attack. The explosion was audible miles away and happened at a time when the area was typically filled with visitors attending court hearings.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the assailant “tried to enter the court premises but failed, instead targeting a police car.” Earlier reports suggested it was a car bomb.
Naqvi further claimed, without definitive evidence, that the attack was executed by elements allegedly backed by India and proxies of the Afghan Taliban, linked to the Pakistani Taliban. He added that all angles of the incident are under investigation.
outside the courtroom
Authorities quickly cordoned off the courthouse area as smoke rose after the explosion. Most of the casualties were reportedly passersby and people arriving for court appointments, according to Islamabad police.
Many seriously injured individuals were heard screaming for help as ambulances raced to the scene.
“People started running in every direction,” said Mohammad Afzal, a courtroom attendee at the time.
Naqvi mentioned that a severed head, believed to belong to the attacker, was discovered nearby, confirming it was a suicide bombing. Surveillance footage later showed the attacker at the scene.
Overnight raid on army-run university
In another incident, Pakistani security forces averted a hostage scenario at an army-run university when a car bomb and five militants targeted the facility in the northwestern province.
Authorities suspect the Pakistani Taliban was behind this attack, though the group has denied involvement.
This assault commenced late Monday night when bombers targeted a cadet college in Wana, Khyber Pakhtankhwa province, which previously served as a stronghold for militant groups like the Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda.
Local police chief Alamgir Mahasud stated that two militants fell quickly to troops, while the remaining three gained entry before being contained. Military special forces joined the operation, leading to intermittent firefights that lasted for hours.
Even about 20 hours post-attack, clearing operations continued. The structure attacked was separate from the building housing cadets, who were swiftly evacuated.
Reports about injuries among students or staff remain unconfirmed, though it is possible some troops may have been wounded.
Prime Minister promises accountability
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks in both Islamabad and Wana, advocating for a comprehensive investigation. He emphasized that those responsible must face justice promptly.
“We will certainly apprehend and hold accountable the culprits,” he stated.
Sharif described the assault on unarmed civilians as “reprehensible,” asserting, “We will not let the blood of innocent Pakistanis go in vain.”
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif mentioned on social media that the country is essentially at war, implicating the Afghan Taliban government in the violence and accusing them of providing a safe haven for the Pakistani Taliban.
He indicated that while Pakistan is capable of responding to these threats, Afghanistan could do more to curb terrorism spilling across the border.
The Taliban have gained confidence since taking control in Kabul in 2021, with many of its fighters believed to find refuge there. Kabul has, however, denied any support for the Pakistani Taliban.
Recent years have seen a marked increase in violence from armed groups in Pakistan. The most horrific incident happened in 2014 when Taliban-affiliated attackers killed 154 people, primarily children, in a military school in Peshawar.
The military stated that the intent behind the current attack echoing the 2014 assault signifies a troubling trend.
Peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan stalled
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated recently. The Afghan government accused Islamabad of a drone strike on October 9 that resulted in several fatalities and pledged retaliation.
Casualties among soldiers, civilians, and militants arose from subsequent cross-border conflicts, but a ceasefire brokered by Qatar on October 19 is currently in effect.
Two rounds of peace talks were held in Istanbul, the latest on Thursday, though they ended without conclusion. Kabul’s refusal to guarantee that the TTP and other groups would not use Afghan soil against Pakistan proved a sticking point.
A temporary ceasefire established in 2022 between Pakistan and the TTP eventually broke down after accusations of violations emerged from both sides.
