TTP Claims Responsibility for Islamabad Suicide Attack That Kills 12, Injures 27
Afghan Connection Under Probe as Terror Returns to the Capital After Years.
The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide blast outside a courthouse in Islamabad that killed at least 12 people and injured 27 on Tuesday, marking the return of terrorism to the capital after several years of relative calm.
The explosion occurred outside the district court complex in the G-11 sector, an area usually crowded with lawyers and litigants. Police said a lone bomber detonated explosives after failing in repeated attempts to enter the building.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that Pakistan is “in a state of war,” adding that the attack bears the hallmark of the Pakistan Taliban. He said, “The enemy wants to destabilize the country, but our security forces are alert and united.”
Afghan Connection Under Investigation
Investigators believe the attacker arrived in Islamabad on Friday, traveling from Pir Wadhai to the courthouse on a motorcycle while wearing a shawl. CCTV footage retrieved by the Safe City Islamabad Authority and nearby buildings is being analyzed to trace his movements and identify any handlers or facilitators.
According to initial findings, the explosive used weighed around four to five kilograms and was packed with ball bearings to maximize damage. Authorities said the bomber appeared to have acted alone, though investigations are underway to verify any support network.
A disfigured face believed to be that of the bomber was recovered from the scene and has been sent to NADRA for forensic identification and facial reconstruction.
Security on High Alert in Islamabad
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the bomber was seen on CCTV “trying from different angles to enter the court premises” before blowing himself up at the main gate. “Law enforcement agencies, Rangers, and the army are coordinating to ensure the capital’s security,” he said.
Naqvi also announced that vehicles without e-tags will not be allowed to enter Islamabad after two weeks as part of enhanced security measures.
The attack comes amid multiple high-profile events in Islamabad, including the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, the 6th Margalla Dialogue, and a tri-nation cricket series involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe in nearby Rawalpindi.
Victims and Aftermath
The deceased were identified as Iftikhar Ali, Sajjad Shah, Tariq Khan, Subhan Uddin, Saqlain, Safdar Ali, Shah Mohammad, Zubair Ghuman, Abdullah, and Iftikhar Khan.
Among the injured were Assistant Sub-Inspector Arshad, Head Constable Mohammad Imran, Constable Imran Javed, and civilians Nusrat Zafran, Shamsha Khizer, Shumaila, and Bushra Bibi.
TTP’s Growing Threat
The Pakistan Taliban have carried out over 600 attacks this year, primarily targeting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — which borders Afghanistan — killing hundreds. Tuesday’s suicide bombing is the most significant attack in Islamabad in recent years, reigniting concerns over TTP’s expanding reach and the growing spillover from Afghanistan.
The defence minister, Khawaja Asif, called Tuesday’s suicide attack a “wake-up call” to the terror threats the country was facing on multiple border fronts that were now playing out in the capital.
“We are in a state of war. Anyone who thinks that the Pakistan army is fighting this war in the Afghan-Pakistan border region and the remote areas of Balochistan, today’s suicide attack at the Islamabad district courts is a wake-up call,” he said.
