By Ireti Asemota.
A devastating suicide bombing struck outside a district court in Islamabad’s G-11 judicial complex on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 12 people and injuring 27 others in one of the deadliest attacks on Pakistan’s heavily secured capital in over a decade. đ„đ”đ°
The blast occurred around 12:30 pm in the parking lot near the entrance, where the attackerâunable to enter the premisesâwaited 10-15 minutes before detonating explosives next to a police vehicle. CCTV footage captured the suspect loitering before the explosion, which sent plumes of smoke skyward and damaged vehicles amid panicked crowds of lawyers and visitors.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed it was a suicide attack, alleging involvement of “Indian-backed elements and Afghan Taliban proxies” linked to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), though investigations continue. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed claims of Indian sponsorship without evidence.
A TTP splinter group, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, claimed responsibility, per monitoring platforms. No immediate claim from the main TTP, which has denied similar recent incidents.
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the “suicide blast,” offering condolences.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared Pakistan “in a state of war,” calling the strike a “wake-up call” and a “message from Kabul,” vowing full response capabilities. He dismissed further talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers as futile amid failed Istanbul negotiations last week.
The attack follows a foiled militant assault on a cadet college in Wana (Northwest Pakistan) overnight and escalates tensions after October border clashes. Pakistan accuses Kabul of sheltering TTP; Afghanistan denies and condemned the blast.
This marks the first major strike in Islamabad since 2014, amid a post-2021 surge in TTP violence. It coincided with a separate explosion in New Delhi yesterday.
Security tightened; forensic teams on site. Global reactions pour in, with outrage over civilian targeting.
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