Pakistani authorities announced Friday the arrest of four individuals allegedly connected to the recent suicide bombing in Islamabad. The suspects are believed to be part of a terrorist cell with leadership based in Afghanistan.
According to a statement released by the Pakistani government, the arrested individuals are affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The government alleges that the cell received direct instructions and guidance from its leadership operating within Afghanistan.
The bombing, which targeted a police patrol near a courthouse in the capital, resulted in the deaths of 12 people and injured 27 others. The TTP has claimed responsibility for the attack, the first major incident in Islamabad in approximately three years. The group has also issued threats of further attacks unless Sharia law is implemented in the country.
“Four members of the TTP involved in the Islamabad attack have been apprehended,” the government stated, emphasizing the alleged Afghan connection. “This cell was receiving its instructions and guidance at every step from its leadership located in Afghanistan.”
Pakistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of supporting the TTP, allegations that the Afghan authorities deny.
The Afghan government maintains that it has arrested or killed Pakistani nationals linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the presence of Pakistani militants within Afghanistan does not imply responsibility on the part of the Afghan people or government.
In response, the Pakistani Ministry of Information reiterated its accusations, asserting that the identities of the militants killed in recent operations prove their connection to bases within Afghanistan. Tensions between the two countries have escalated since deadly border clashes last month, with Islamabad threatening action if the attacks continue. Negotiations between the two nations remain stalled.
The arrests mark a significant development in the investigation into the Islamabad bombing and highlight the ongoing security challenges facing Pakistan and the wider region.
