A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a district court complex in Islamabad on Tuesday, killing at least 12 people and wounding 27 others, according to Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
The explosion took place near a police vehicle at around 12:39pm local time in the busy G-11 judicial zone.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos: smoke billowed across the court premises, ambulances rushed victims to hospitals, and public visitors scattered in panic.
The Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, said the attacker had attempted to enter the court building and, after being denied access, detonated his device near a parked police van.
Authorities said the bombing marks one of the most serious attacks in Islamabad in years and comes amid a surge in militant violence across Pakistan.
While no group immediately claimed the blast, intelligence agencies are investigating the involvement of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or its affiliates.
The federal government condemned the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised that “those responsible will be held to account,” noting the country is under “serious threat”.
The Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, declared that Pakistan remains in a “state of war” with militants, particularly amid ongoing tensions with neighbouring Afghanistan over border sanctuaries.
Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and forensic evidence, including the discovery of the bomber’s severed head at the scene, which confirmed the suicide nature of the attack.Meanwhile, the security apparatus has increased alert levels across Islamabad’s judicial, diplomatic and high-traffic zones.
The blast outside the judicial complex underscores the fragility of Pakistan’s internal security environment. Analysts say the attack serves as a warning that even the country’s capital remains vulnerable despite years of counter-terrorism operations.
The Washington Post
The coming days are expected to see heightened scrutiny on how militant groups are able to strike high-profile targets in Islamabad and whether regional dynamics including external support networks are playing a significant role.
