Suicide bombing near Islamabad court kills 12 and injures dozens

A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the gates of a district court in Islamabad on Tuesday, killing 12 people and wounding at least 27 others, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed. The attack occurred during one of the busiest times of day, when hundreds of visitors are typically gathered outside the courthouse. Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as the blast, heard for miles, sent smoke billowing into the sky and left injured victims crying out for help. Police say the attacker attempted to enter the court complex, but after failing to get through security, detonated his explosives beside a police vehicle.

Initial reports suggested a car bomb, but authorities later confirmed the explosion was carried out by a suicide bomber after discovering a severed head believed to belong to the attacker. CCTV footage also captured the suspect near the site of the blast. A breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, initially appeared to claim responsibility, but soon after, a commander from the group denied it, highlighting ongoing divisions within militant networks. Interior Minister Naqvi alleged—without presenting evidence—that the attack was carried out by “Indian-backed elements and Afghan Taliban-linked proxies,” though investigations are still ongoing. The attack drew condemnation from several countries, including the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar.

The bombing came just hours after militants attempted to storm an army-run cadet college in Wana, near the Afghan border. In that attack, a suicide car bomber and several gunmen tried to seize hostages, but Pakistani security forces intervened, killing two of the attackers and cornering three others inside an administrative building. Cadets were evacuated to safety, and operations continued into Tuesday. Authorities blamed the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the college attack, though the group publicly denied involvement in both incidents.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks, vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of allowing TTP militants to operate from Afghan territory and warned that Pakistan is prepared to respond “with full force.” The Afghan government has denied harboring the group. Militant attacks in Pakistan have surged since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, emboldening TTP elements believed to be sheltering across the border. The escalation has also complicated recent peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have stalled due to disagreements over counterterrorism guarantees.

The latest violence has reignited painful memories of past attacks, including the 2014 massacre of 154 people—mostly children—at a school in Peshawar, carried out by a TTP faction. Security analysts warn that the situation remains fragile, with political, regional, and militant tensions converging into a renewed national security challenge for Pakistan.