Islamabad: Suicide Blast Outside Court Kills 12, Injures 27; Pakistan Vows Action Against Terror Sponsors
A suicide bomber detonated explosives near a police vehicle outside a court in Pakistan’s capital on Tuesday, killing at least 12 people and injuring 27 others, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said.
Naqvi, who visited the blast site, said the attacker attempted to enter the court complex but, upon failing, detonated the explosives near a police vehicle at the gate of the District Judicial Complex in Islamabad’s G-11 area around 12:39 p.m. (local time). Among the victims were police personnel and a lawyer.
No group has claimed responsibility so far, though such attacks are often linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “Our first priority is to identify the attacker. Once confirmed, details will be shared with the media,” Naqvi said, vowing to bring those behind the bombing to justice.
The minister added that the identification of victims was underway and alleged that groups financing militants in Pakistan had tripled their funding. “We are connecting today’s incident with several factors. Things will become clearer in the coming hours,” he said.
Naqvi refrained from speculating on responsibility, remarking, “We will come forward with evidence. Pakistan is clear that Afghanistan must stop terrorism from its soil — otherwise, we will have to act.”
President Asif Ali Zardari and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif both condemned the “suicide blast.” In a statement on X, Defence Minister Asif said, “The rulers of Kabul can stop terrorism in Pakistan, but bringing this war to Islamabad is a message from Kabul. Pakistan has the full strength to respond.”
He warned that Pakistan was “in a state of war,” urging the public to see the attack as a wake-up call. “This is a war for all of Pakistan, and the army is making daily sacrifices to ensure people’s security,” he said.
President Zardari expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.
According to state-run Pakistan Television (PTV), rescue teams recovered 12 bodies from the site and shifted them to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where 20 injured individuals were also admitted. The broadcaster reported that “the suicide bomber’s head was found lying on the road.”
The attack occurred days after a third round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban ended without progress on addressing cross-border terrorism. Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in militant attacks, particularly in regions bordering Afghanistan, often targeting police and security forces.
Just a day earlier, a suicide bomber targeted the gate of Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan, injuring six people. Security officials said the assault was carried out by the banned TTP.
Last year, Pakistan officially designated the TTP as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” a term historically referring to a violent extremist sect.
