A devastating blast has shaken Islamabad, claiming the lives of at least 12 people in a brazen act of terror carried out by the Pakistan Taliban. The attack, which occurred outside district court buildings on Tuesday, was confirmed as a suicide bombing and has sent shockwaves through the capital.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and destruction, with lawyers and litigants fleeing for their lives after hearing a loud bang. "It was complete chaos," said Rustam Malik, a lawyer who witnessed the incident. "I saw two dead bodies lying on the gate and several cars were on fire."
The interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, revealed that 12 people had lost their lives in the attack, with 27 others injured. The bomber, it is claimed, had attempted to target the court premises but instead targeted a police vehicle.
In a statement, the Pakistan Taliban took responsibility for the attack, stating that judges, lawyers, and officials who had carried out rulings under what they deemed "un-Islamic laws" were their targets. The group vowed to continue its campaign until Islamic sharia law was implemented in Pakistan.
The attack has raised concerns about the country's security situation, with defence minister Khawaja Asif declaring a state of war due to the rising tide of terror attacks. "We are in a state of war," he warned. "Anyone who thinks that the Pakistan army is fighting this war on multiple border fronts will be proved wrong by today's suicide attack at the Islamabad district courts."
The incident has also highlighted the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both countries accused of providing safe havens to terror groups. The two nations are engaged in fragile ceasefire talks over cross-border terrorism, but so far, no agreements have been reached.
Pakistan is facing a deadly surge in attacks by militants on multiple fronts, including the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The country's separatist insurgency in Balochistan has carried out dozens of increasingly sophisticated attacks in recent years, including the high-profile hijacking of a passenger train earlier this year.
As Islamabad reels from the aftermath of Tuesday's attack, concerns about the country's ability to secure its borders and protect its citizens remain deeply unsettling. The Pakistan Taliban's claim of responsibility for the deadly blast has sent a chilling message: the war on terror is far from over.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and destruction, with lawyers and litigants fleeing for their lives after hearing a loud bang. "It was complete chaos," said Rustam Malik, a lawyer who witnessed the incident. "I saw two dead bodies lying on the gate and several cars were on fire."
The interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, revealed that 12 people had lost their lives in the attack, with 27 others injured. The bomber, it is claimed, had attempted to target the court premises but instead targeted a police vehicle.
In a statement, the Pakistan Taliban took responsibility for the attack, stating that judges, lawyers, and officials who had carried out rulings under what they deemed "un-Islamic laws" were their targets. The group vowed to continue its campaign until Islamic sharia law was implemented in Pakistan.
The attack has raised concerns about the country's security situation, with defence minister Khawaja Asif declaring a state of war due to the rising tide of terror attacks. "We are in a state of war," he warned. "Anyone who thinks that the Pakistan army is fighting this war on multiple border fronts will be proved wrong by today's suicide attack at the Islamabad district courts."
The incident has also highlighted the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both countries accused of providing safe havens to terror groups. The two nations are engaged in fragile ceasefire talks over cross-border terrorism, but so far, no agreements have been reached.
Pakistan is facing a deadly surge in attacks by militants on multiple fronts, including the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The country's separatist insurgency in Balochistan has carried out dozens of increasingly sophisticated attacks in recent years, including the high-profile hijacking of a passenger train earlier this year.
As Islamabad reels from the aftermath of Tuesday's attack, concerns about the country's ability to secure its borders and protect its citizens remain deeply unsettling. The Pakistan Taliban's claim of responsibility for the deadly blast has sent a chilling message: the war on terror is far from over.
i feel for the victims and their families, 12 lives lost is just too much. it's like they say "you can't stop the terrorists, but you can stop them coming to your doorstep" 
has anyone thought of a way to secure court buildings without causing so many casualties? and what about all these safe havens for terrorist groups? shouldn't we be looking into that more? 
and btw why do they keep targeting people who are trying to enforce the law? isn't that what the law is supposed to protect them from? 
i'm just worried now, can pakistan get its act together and find a way to stop all this violence? 
12 people died in an attack outside a court building and it's just insane what these pakistan taliban guys are capable of their statement about judges & lawyers seems pretty extreme, like who even gets to decide that the laws are un-islamic anyway? 
12 people lost their lives, 27 injured... it's just devastating 
my heart goes out to those who were affected by this senseless act of violence 
i can imagine the chaos and destruction that followed 
what's even more disturbing is the Pakistan Taliban's claim that they targeted judges, lawyers, and officials who made rulings under "un-Islamic laws"... it's like they're trying to create fear and division 
the government's response of declaring a state of war is understandable, but we need to get to the root cause of this issue 
. I'm trying to understand why such targets are chosen - courts and police stations? It's like they're trying to send a message that no one is safe 
. Pakistan needs to find a way to address these threats without escalating the situation further 
. Is it really just about implementing Islamic sharia law? Or are there other factors at play? The Pakistan Taliban's words seem too straightforward, like they're trying to deflect blame or hide their true intentions 
.
. I'm worried about my family, you know? We're always on edge, wondering when the next attack will happen. The Pakistan Taliban is just getting bolder, and it's scaring the living daylights out of me 
. And what about the tensions with Afghanistan? It's like we're caught in the middle of this mess, with no clear way out 
. I just want my country to be safe again, you know?
but it seems like pakistan is stuck in this neverending cycle of violence and terrorism 
.
that "un-Islamic laws" thing sounds way too suspicious 
to me, like they're just trying to create a narrative for their own gain 
and what's with the state of emergency declaration? is this really a war situation or just a way to consolidate power 
anyway, it's super unsettling that pakistan can't even secure its borders without getting attacked 
and all these terror attacks are happening left and right... i'm low-key convinced it's not just about terrorism, there's more to it 
. i feel so bad for the victims' families and loved ones, they must be going through hell right now 
what needs to happen is for these extremist groups to be held accountable for their actions, not just by the authorities but also by society at large 
seriously, can't these ppl just pick a day to attack each other? first it's the Taliban, now it's the separatists... like who's gonna win in this game of "who can blow up the most places" 
defence minister asif declaring a state of war? sounds like he's trying out for a role in "warrior" 
And what about all the reports of safe havens in Afghanistan? It seems like no matter how many times Pakistan and Afghanistan talk about cross-border terrorism, nothing ever gets done 
what's goin on in pakistan?? it seems like they're gettin attacked left and right 
the paki taliban is just gettin more brazen by the day, takin out innocent ppl like it's nobodies business 
& now the gov't is sayin we're in a state of war