Islamabad Suicide Attack Kills 12, Pakistan Blames India
A suicide attack outside a district and sessions court building in Islamabad today killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 30, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to accuse India of orchestrating the attack.
The blast occurred shortly after 12:30 PM local time (07:30 GMT) at the entrance of the District Judicial Complex on Srinagar Highway, a major artery in the capital. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the casualty count, stating at least five of the wounded are in critical condition. The attack took place as Islamabad hosted international conferences and a one-day international cricket match was underway in nearby Rawalpindi. The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Pakistan despite relative calm in the capital in recent years.
Prime Minister Sharif directly blamed India for both the Islamabad bombing and a separate incident yesterday at Cadet College in South Waziristan, stating, “Both attacks are the worst examples of Indian state terrorism in the region.” He called for international condemnation of what he described as “nefarious conspiracies.” The Jamaa-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the Islamabad attack, though the TTP itself denied involvement. Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering the TTP, a charge Kabul denies; tensions between the two countries remain high, as detailed in recent reports from Al Jazeera.
Witness Raja Aleem Abbasi, a member of the Islamabad Bar Council, described the scene as “complete chaos and panic,” recounting seeing the bomber’s head near him immediately after the explosion. Security has been heightened across the country following the attacks, and authorities are continuing operations to rescue cadets still held following the assault on the college in Wana. Further investigation into the attacks is underway, and officials have stated they will pursue all leads to bring those responsible to justice.
