At least 12 people were killed and around 20 others were injured in a suicide bombing in Islamabad on Tuesday, making it the deadliest attack in Pakistan’s capital since 2008. The blast took place in the parking area near the Islamabad High Court, located in a high-security zone surrounded by important government buildings.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack and called it a tragic act of terrorism. The militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), linked to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), claimed responsibility. However, the TTP leadership denied involvement, distancing itself from the assault.
Despite Islamabad being heavily fortified with strict security checkpoints, the attackers managed to strike one of the busiest judicial and administrative zones in the city. The incident is the most severe since the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing, which killed 54 people.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on the social platform X that the country is in a “state of war,” adding that the attack should serve as a wake-up call regarding relations with Afghanistan. Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban of providing safe haven to TTP fighters, especially since the Taliban regained control of Kabul in 2021.
In response, the Afghan Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed sorrow and condemned both the Islamabad bombing and another attack on a cadet college in northwestern Pakistan. Their statement did not address Pakistan’s accusations.
Several countries, including China and the United States, condemned the attack. The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker stated that the United States stands in solidarity with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have risen sharply in recent months. Both sides engaged in severe border clashes in October, and attempts to negotiate a ceasefire collapsed last week during talks in Istanbul.
The Islamabad bombing occurred less than a day after militants targeted a cadet training institution in the northwest, raising further concerns about a renewed wave of violence in the region.
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