Islamabad Tightens Security After Deadly Suicide Bombing Near District Courts — 12 Dead, 27 Injured

Islamabad tightens security after suicide bombing near district courts

Authorities in Pakistan's capital intensified security checks after a suicide bombing outside district court buildings on Tuesday that killed at least 12 people and wounded 27. The attack, the first of its kind in Islamabad in nearly three years, was claimed by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban.

The affected district court remained closed while security was strengthened at other court complexes across the city. Long queues of vehicles formed at new checkpoints as police and military units increased patrols.

"Our army, police, and all law enforcement agencies are alert and performing their duties. Unfortunately, the question remains: Where are these attacks coming from, and how are they happening?" — Fazal Satar, resident

Several witnesses and an injured police officer described a powerful, sudden blast. "It was a very powerful explosion," said Muhammad Imran, 42, who was wounded. "It was a very sudden bang, and I felt like someone had thrown me to the ground."

Students and residents voiced concern about broader consequences for foreign investment and Pakistan's ability to host international sporting events. "In my opinion, this is a serious security lapse, and we must learn from it. If such attacks continue, how will the world trust us?" said Sharjeel Ahmed, a 26-year-old student.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari held security consultations following the blast. A statement from the president's office said the leaders "reiterated their commitment that operations against foreign-backed terrorists and their facilitators will continue until terrorism is completely eradicated."

Wider context and related attacks

The group that claimed the attack is a faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an insurgent group that has concentrated much of its activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the Afghan border. Islamabad has long accused the Taliban authorities in Kabul of sheltering some TTP elements, an allegation the Afghan Taliban deny.

The Taliban government in Kabul expressed "deep sorrow & condemnation" for both the Islamabad suicide bombing and a separate assault on a military-run cadet college in Wana near the Afghan border. A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, said recruits at Cadet College Wana were rescued after an operation that killed five militants.

Violence in Pakistan has risen since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021, and relations between the two countries have deteriorated recently. United Nations figures say the worst cross-border fighting in years killed more than 70 people last month, including dozens of Afghan civilians.

Impact on judiciary and public trust

The attack, which targeted the judiciary's premises, has left judges, lawyers and court staff fearful. At a cemetery service, lawyer Hafiz Mazhar Malik Javeed, who was burying a colleague killed in the blast, said: "All the judges and lawyers were afraid. We thought, maybe after some time, they will attack us again."

Authorities say they will pursue operations against militants while investigating how the attacker gained access to the area. The incident underscores continuing security challenges in Pakistan and raises fresh concerns about regional stability, cross-border militancy and the safety of public institutions.