Pakistan’s information minister has accused the Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of jointly orchestrating the recent suicide attack in Islamabad. He said that authorities have obtained “clear evidence” that the bomber was an Afghan national.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Ataullah Tarar said four suspects had been arrested within 48 hours of the blast. He said one of the detainees had confessed that the attackers entered Pakistan from Afghanistan and received training there.
According to Tarar, the suspect also claimed that both the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the TTP were involved in planning the attack. He said investigators had found evidence indicating that the operation was directed by TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud through a commander known as Dadullah inside Afghanistan, who then coordinated with an associate named Sajidullah in Pakistan. Tarar said Sajidullah, described as the main suspect, had previously been a member of the Afghan Taliban.
The explosion near Islamabad’s judicial complex killed at least 12 people and injured 27 others. The attack took place shortly before noon on Tuesday, 11 November, in the G-11 area of the capital. Officials said the blast’s impact set several nearby vehicles on fire. Tarar added that heightened security measures prevented the bomber from reaching his intended targets.
One day after the attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Parliament that India and the Afghan Taliban were involved. The Taliban authorities have not yet responded to the latest accusations but have previously dismissed similar claims, describing Pakistan’s security challenges as “an internal matter.”
