Islamabad: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has declared that the country is “in a state of war,” following a suicide bombing outside Islamabad’s district courts that left at least 12 people dead and 36 injured. The attack has heightened fears of rising militancy amid rapidly deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Blast Hits Islamabad During Major Events
The explosion struck near the Islamabad District Judicial Complex even as the capital was hosting two major events the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference and the 6th Margalla Dialogue. A cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was also underway in nearby Rawalpindi at the time of the blast.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, blaming “terrorists active with Indian support” and urging Afghanistan to stop groups operating from its territory. “Lasting peace can only be achieved if the Afghan government reins in these outfits,” Sharif said, adding that Pakistan had given a “firm and decisive” response to recent cross-border provocations.
Asif: ‘A Wake-Up Call for the Nation’
In a post on X, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the attack should serve as a “wake-up call” for those who believed the country’s fight against terrorism was limited to its border regions.
“This is a war for all of Pakistan,” Asif wrote. “Our army is sacrificing daily to keep the nation safe. Bringing this war to Islamabad is a message from Kabul one Pakistan has the strength to answer decisively.”
Breakdown in Peace Talks With Taliban
The attack comes as peace talks between Islamabad and Kabul, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, have collapsed. Ankara confirmed that three senior Turkish officials will visit Islamabad this week to discuss the deepening security crisis.
Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have deteriorated since mid-October, when cross-border clashes killed dozens on both sides. The tensions began after an October 11 attack on Pakistani soil, which was allegedly launched from Afghanistan. The Taliban accused Pakistan of retaliatory airstrikes—claims Islamabad has yet to confirm.
After several deadly skirmishes, both governments agreed to a ceasefire on October 15 and held negotiations in Doha and Istanbul. However, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar later said the October 29 talks “failed to produce any workable agreement.”
Despite the setback, Turkish and Qatari mediators pushed forward, and a joint statement on October 31 confirmed plans for another principal-level meeting in Istanbul on November 6 to discuss further steps.
With the Islamabad blast now intensifying the conflict, analysts warn that the fragile truce between the two neighbors could completely unravel, plunging the region into a deeper phase of instability.
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