Afghan citizen identified among attackers in Islamabad suicide blast says Minister

The suicide bomber behind the deadly attack at the Islamabad district court was an Afghan national, confirmed Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Wednesday.

“I can confirm that the attacker was an Afghan national. But Pakistan is a responsible country, we don’t blame others without evidence,” Chaudhry said during an appearance on Geo News’ programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath.

The explosion outside the court building on Tuesday killed 12 people and injured more than 30. After the attack, authorities closed the court and tightened security across other judicial complexes in Islamabad.

“The attacker was not a Pakistani, didn’t know the local language, and wasn’t even familiar with our currency,” Chaudhry added. He said he couldn’t share further details to avoid affecting the ongoing investigation, but confirmed that there was strong evidence linking the attack to elements in India and Afghanistan.

According to the minister, cab and bike riders working for online ride-hailing services told investigators that the bomber didn’t understand Urdu or recognize Pakistani money.

The attack drew strong condemnation from China, Qatar, the UK, and the US. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promised that Pakistan would continue to take decisive action against foreign-backed terrorists.

The blast happened on the same day that security forces cleared Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan, eliminating all the terrorists who had taken control of the institution.

Following the twin incidents, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan might consider carrying out strikes inside Afghanistan if cross-border attacks continue.

Pakistan has been facing a sharp rise in terrorism, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban took power in 2021. In just the first eight months of 2025, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone recorded over 600 terror incidents, causing the deaths of at least 138 civilians and 79 police officers.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban government to stop militants from using its soil to attack Pakistan. Border clashes have erupted between the two neighbours, and despite reaching a ceasefire in October, both sides have failed to revive talks.

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