Pakistan’s defence minister said Tuesday’s suicide bombing at a judicial complex in the capital is a “serious warning” for the country, claiming the Taliban have now brought their conflict onto Pakistani soil.
In a post on X, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote that Pakistan is in a state of war. He said anyone who believes the army is fighting only in border regions or in Balochistan “should be awakened” by the attack. “This war belongs to all of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the military is making daily sacrifices while providing citizens with a sense of protection and security.
Asif said that in the current circumstances, placing hope in negotiations with the ‘rulers in Kabul’ would be a mistake, insisting that the Taliban have the ability to prevent terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
He said the fact the violence has reached Islamabad sends a message from Kabul, but Pakistan, by the grace of God, has the capability to respond decisively.
At least 12 people were killed and 27 wounded in the blast near the Islamabad judicial complex. The explosion occurred Tuesday morning in the capital’s G-11 district, and officials said the blast ignited several vehicles in the area.
