WATCH: Suicide Bomber Kills 12 in Islamabad’s Deadliest Attack in a Decade

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — A suicide bombing in Pakistan’s capital on Tuesday killed at least twelve people and injured twenty-seven others, marking the deadliest attack in Islamabad in nearly ten years.

The blast occurred just after noon outside the district courts complex, a heavily secured area close to several Western embassies and government buildings.

Attacker Targets Police Vehicle

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the bomber tried to enter the courthouse but was stopped by security. Moments later, the attacker detonated the explosives near a police vehicle parked outside the gate.

All twelve fatalities were civilians, and four police officers were among the wounded. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with burning cars and victims lying near the entrance to the court compound.

Search for Responsibility and Rising Tensions

A breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) known as Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility, though the main TTP leadership denied involvement. Officials say conflicting claims reflect ongoing divisions within the militant network.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing and accused “foreign-backed extremist groups” of destabilizing Pakistan. Government officials alleged that militants were receiving support from India, an accusation India called “baseless and unfounded.”

The bombing came one day after suspected TTP fighters attempted to storm a cadet college in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, highlighting a growing surge in militant violence across the region.

Threat of Military Response

The attack has heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad demanding that the Taliban government act against militant groups operating across the border.

Interior Minister Naqvi warned that if Afghan authorities fail to curb extremist activity, Pakistan “will have no choice but to take necessary measures to protect its people.”

The bombing underscores the country’s fragile security situation as officials weigh new counter-terrorism operations following years of intermittent peace talks.

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