Islamabad, Pakistan – A suicide bombing at the Islamabad district courts on Tuesday claimed lives adn injured multiple individuals, with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) claiming responsibility. Footage from the scene showed a vehicle engulfed in flames near the court complex.
The attack underscores a resurgence of militant violence in Pakistan, occurring amidst a separate, escalating separatist insurgency in Balochistan. Witnesses described scenes of chaos following the blast, with lawyers and civilians fleeing the area. “It was complete chaos, lawyers and peopel were running inside the complex. I saw two dead bodies lying on the gate and several cars were on fire,” lawyer Rustam Malik told Agence France-Presse.
The TTP’s claim of responsibility raises concerns about the group’s continued ability to orchestrate attacks despite ongoing counter-terrorism efforts. Pakistan has been grappling with a ”lethal surge” in the Balochistan separatist movement, with militants carrying out increasingly sophisticated attacks, including a passenger train hijacking earlier this year.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif characterized the Islamabad bombing as a “wake-up call,” highlighting the multi-pronged terror threats facing the country. “We are in a state of war,” Asif stated, adding that the attack demonstrated the conflict extends beyond border regions and into the capital. He also expressed doubt about the prospects for successful peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban given the current security climate.
