Pakistan’s Minister of Interior reported that a suicide bomber triggered an explosion near a police vehicle outside the district court in Islamabad, resulting in the death of 12 individuals and injuries to 27 others. The Minister stated that the attacker attempted to breach the court premises but resorted to targeting a police vehicle instead. The explosion, caused by a suicide bomber according to police investigators, was heard from a considerable distance and occurred during a crowded period outside the court.
The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack, as communicated by the group’s leader, Omar Mukaram Khurasani. However, another prominent figure within the group, Sarbakaf Mohmand, distanced themselves from any association with the attack. The group, which split from the Pakistani Taliban following the demise of its leader in Afghanistan in 2022, has experienced internal divisions with some members rejoining the TTP while others maintaining their independence.
Authorities earlier indicated that a car bomb was responsible for the explosion, and the Minister of Interior alleged without presenting evidence that the attack was orchestrated by Indian-backed elements and Afghan Taliban proxies linked to the Pakistani Taliban. The Minister emphasized that investigations are ongoing to explore all angles related to the incident.
In response to the attack, widespread condemnation was expressed by various countries and organizations, including the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a thorough investigation and stressed the accountability of all terrorism perpetrators.
The immediate aftermath of the bombing saw chaos outside the court, with police securing the area as smoke billowed into the air. Most of the casualties were individuals passing by or attending court appointments. Witnesses described scenes of panic and distress as ambulances arrived to tend to the wounded. The discovery of a severed head near the site, believed to belong to the attacker, confirmed the suicide nature of the blast, as per the police.
In a separate incident, security forces thwarted an attack on an army-run college where militants, including a suicide car bomber and five Pakistani Taliban members, attempted to take cadets hostage. The unfolding situation saw initial confrontations leading to the death of two militants, with three others seeking refuge in an administrative block within the compound.
The Pakistani Taliban denied involvement in the college attack, with the group’s activities escalating since the Taliban’s ascendancy in Kabul. The surge in militant activities in Pakistan has been a growing concern, with past tragedies like the 2014 school attack in Peshawar that claimed numerous lives. The recent incidents underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Pakistan in combating terrorism and maintaining security amidst regional tensions.