Suicide blast in Pakistan’s capital leaves 12 dead, multiple injured

At least 12 people were killed and more than 27 injured in an explosion outside a court building in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Tuesday, the interior minister confirmed.

The blast occurred near the entrance of the Islamabad district court in G-11, an area usually packed with litigants and visitors. Local media aired graphic images from the scene, showing bloodied individuals lying near a police van as emergency teams rushed in.

PM blames India-backed proxies

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, saying it was carried out by “India-backed proxy groups”. He ordered a full investigation and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Sharif added that militants operating on India’s instructions had also carried out a vehicle-borne suicide attack in Wana, targeting innocent children. He described the continuing attacks being launched from Afghan soil with Indian backing as “unacceptable.”

“We will not allow the blood of innocent Pakistanis to go in vain,” the prime minister said, pledging to continue the fight against terrorism until the last militants of Fitna al‑Hindustan and Fitna al‑Khawarij are neutralized. He stressed that such cowardly acts cannot shake Pakistan’s resolve and called on India to stop spreading violence in the region through proxy forces.

Sharif also urged the international community to condemn these conspiracies, warning that India’s role in destabilizing regional peace has now been exposed. He described both attacks as “the worst form of state-sponsored terrorism in the region.”

'Attackers will be exposed'

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters the Islamabad attack was a suicide bombing that occurred at 12:39 pm. According to him, the attacker had initially tried to enter the courthouse but, when denied, targeted a police vehicle. “Our first priority is to identify the suicide attacker,” Naqvi said, adding that all those involved in the attack will be exposed.

Naqvi said the incident was linked to multiple factors and “carries multiple messages.” He warned that anyone found responsible — “even if aided by another country” — would not be spared.

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The minister also linked the bombing to heightened security threats across the region. He highlighted that a day earlier, in the northern district of Wana, a vehicle-borne suicide attacker detonated at an entry point. According to him, Afghanistan was implicated in that attack, with communication networks traced back there.

Naqvi said individuals who travelled to Afghanistan had been provided evidence showing how militants were being trained before carrying out attacks. He stressed that if extremist elements in Afghanistan were not restrained, Pakistan would be left with “no option but to deal with them.”

Announcing new security measures, Naqvi said that within two weeks no vehicle would be allowed to enter Islamabad without a designated tag. “We are aware of Afghanistan’s activities, but there will be no compromise on security,” he said, vowing that those behind the courthouse attack would face consequences.

'Islamabad blast is a wake-up call'

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan is in a state of war and the suicide attack at the Islamabad court serves as a wake-up call for the entire country.

He emphasized that while many may assume the Pakistan Army is only fighting in the border regions with Afghanistan or in remote areas of Balochistan, the attack shows that the conflict affects all of Pakistan.

Asif highlighted that the army continues to make daily sacrifices to ensure the safety and security of citizens. He added that placing too much hope in negotiations with the Kabul authorities would be futile.

The minister said that while the Kabul leadership can help prevent terrorism within Pakistan, bringing the war to Islamabad is a message from Kabul - one that Pakistan has the full capacity to respond to.

Earlier, before the minister’s briefing, an Islamabad police spokesperson said investigators were still determining the nature of the blast. “It is not clear yet. We will be able to provide more details after we get a report from our forensic team,” the spokesperson added.

With additional input from Reuters