Delhi and Islamabad Blasts: Who Is Being Blamed as Tensions Escalate?

What happened in Delhi and Islamabad — and who is being accused?

A powerful vehicle explosion in New Delhi and a separate suicide blast in Islamabad have sharply heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Investigations are under way in both capitals, and officials from each country have exchanged accusations amid a fraught regional backdrop following a violent flare-up earlier this year.

Delhi — vehicle explosion near Red Fort Metro Station

On Monday at 6:52pm local time (13:22 GMT), a vehicle exploded in a busy area near the Red Fort Metro Station in New Delhi. Authorities reported at least 13 people killed and more than 20 wounded. Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said the blast appeared to come from a slow-moving vehicle that had stopped at a red light and that nearby vehicles were also damaged.

Police have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967 in the probe and detained the car’s original owner, identified by media as Mohammad Salman, a resident of Gurugram. Investigators say Salman purchased the vehicle in 2013 and later sold it; subsequent buyers have also been questioned and at least one intermediary arrested. Media reports indicate the vehicle remained registered in Salman’s name and carried a Haryana licence plate.

Narendra Modi: "I have come to Bhutan with a very heavy heart. The horrific incident that happened in Delhi last evening has deeply disturbed everyone. Our agencies will get to the very bottom of this conspiracy. The conspirators behind this will not be spared."

India’s political and security leaders have so far not publicly named a perpetrator or accused another country of responsibility.

Islamabad — suicide blast at District Judicial Complex

Less than 24 hours after the Delhi explosion, at about 12:30pm (07:30 GMT) on Tuesday, a suicide blast occurred at the entrance to the District Judicial Complex on Islamabad’s Srinagar Highway. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said a suicide attacker detonated explosives near a police vehicle after failing to enter the court premises. Pakistani officials reported at least 12 dead and more than 30 wounded, with several in critical condition.

The militant group Jamaa-ul-Ahrar, a splinter faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the Islamabad attack; the broader TTP denied involvement. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the blast.

Shehbaz Sharif: "Terrorist attacks on unarmed citizens of Pakistan by India’s terrorist proxies are condemnable."

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly blamed "Indian proxies" for the Islamabad attack but did not provide evidence in his statement. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged the attack may have been planned from Afghanistan at India’s behest. Indian officials have rejected Pakistan’s accusations.

Randhir Jaiswal, Indian MEA spokesperson: "India unequivocally rejects the baseless and unfounded allegations being made by an obviously delirious Pakistani leadership." Jaiswal accused Pakistani officials of trying to distract attention from domestic political controversy over a proposed 27th Amendment to Pakistan’s constitution.

Wider context and reactions

The incidents come against a backdrop of heightened regional friction this year. In April, attackers killed 26 people in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir — an assault India linked to Pakistan-based groups. In May the countries exchanged strikes and aerial clashes before a ceasefire was brokered on May 10. Tensions have also been affected by shifting ties with Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power and stalled Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks.

Analysts warn that immediate public accusations risk escalation. Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, noted that Pakistan’s quick attribution to India follows a pattern of Islamabad blaming New Delhi for anti-Pakistan violence, while India’s post-conflict posture — treating major terrorist attacks as acts of war unless proven otherwise — makes New Delhi cautious about naming a state sponsor without a "smoking-gun." Kugelman described the blasts in both capitals as unusual, psychologically damaging, and indicative of broader security vulnerabilities across the region.

What to watch next

• Findings from forensic and intelligence investigations into both blasts.
• Any formal attribution by India or Pakistan that could change diplomatic or military postures.
• Responses from regional players, including Afghanistan and Turkey, and statements from the international community urging restraint.

The situation remains fluid: authorities continue to investigate, and both countries face internal political pressures that could shape public messaging and policy choices in the coming days.