Islamabad Court Attack
A suicide bombing occurred outside a district court in Islamabad on Tuesday. The perpetrator detonated explosives near a police vehicle, resulting in 12 fatalities, as confirmed by Pakistan's interior minister. The incident is part of a recent increase in violent acts within the country.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion, which also injured at least 27 individuals. The bombing follows a period of heightened activity by the Pakistani Taliban in recent months.
The explosion was audible from several miles away and occurred during a period when the court area is typically congested with individuals attending hearings. Initial reports from Pakistani state-run media and two security officials indicated the blast was caused by a car bomb.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the attacker attempted to enter the court premises but, being unsuccessful, targeted a police vehicle. Naqvi did not attribute blame to any specific militant group, noting that authorities are investigating all aspects of the attack. Police investigators confirmed the blast was the result of a suicide bombing.
Media reports indicated that the casualties primarily included passersby and individuals present for court appointments. Islamabad police stated that investigations are ongoing and did not immediately release further statements.
Earlier Attack on Army College
In a separate incident, Pakistani security forces reported foiling a militant attempt to take cadets hostage at an army-run college overnight. The attack involved a suicide car bomber and five additional assailants targeting the facility in a northwestern province.
Authorities attributed this attack to the Pakistani Taliban, which operates independently but is allied with the Afghan Taliban. However, the Pakistani Taliban denied involvement in the Monday evening incident.
The attack commenced when a bomber attempted to breach the cadet college in Wana, a city located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border. This region had previously been utilized as a base by the Pakistani Taliban, al-Qaida, and other foreign militant groups.
According to local police chief Alamgir Mahsud, two militants were neutralized by troops. Three militants entered the compound and were subsequently contained within an administrative block. Army commandos participated in a clearance operation, with intermittent exchanges of fire continuing into Tuesday.
The administrative block is physically separate from the building accommodating cadets and staff.
The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) has shown increased activity since the Taliban assumed control in Kabul in 2021. It is believed that numerous TTP leaders and fighters have sought refuge in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant attacks in recent years. A notable attack occurred in 2014, where Taliban gunmen killed 154 individuals, primarily children, at an army-run school in Peshawar. Military sources indicated that the assailants on Monday intended to replicate the events of the 2014 Peshawar attack.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions
Tensions have increased between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months.
Kabul attributed drone strikes on October 9, which resulted in several fatalities in the Afghan capital, to Islamabad and stated intent for retaliation. Subsequent cross-border engagements led to the deaths of soldiers, civilians, and militants. Qatar mediated a ceasefire on October 19, which is currently maintained.
Two rounds of peace talks have taken place in Istanbul since the ceasefire, including a session on Thursday. These talks concluded without an agreement, reportedly due to Kabul's refusal to provide written assurance that the TTP and other militant groups would not utilize Afghan territory against Pakistan.
A prior, brief ceasefire between Pakistan and the TTP, facilitated by Kabul in 2022, ended after the TTP alleged violations by Islamabad.