The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence has rejected accusations by Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif following the suicide attack on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad, urging Pakistani officials to review their own security policies.
In a statement, the ministry said Pakistani security officials should “reconsider their policies rather than fleeing from security failures,” describing recent remarks by Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif as “irresponsible.”
The Taliban defence ministry said that despite the Taliban foreign ministry condemning Friday’s attack, Pakistani officials once again attributed the incident to the Taliban.
At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured in the suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad during Friday prayers. The death toll could rise, according to Pakistani authorities.
After the attack, Asif said the suicide bomber had travelled to Afghanistan and claimed there were indications of links and cooperation between India and the Taliban.
The Taliban defence ministry rejected the accusations, saying it was not the first time Pakistani officials had blamed the Taliban for security incidents including attacks in Balochistan and other regions without presenting evidence.
Inayatullah Khwarizmi, spokesperson for the Taliban defence ministry, wrote on X that such claims “have no logic or basis,” adding that “hasty statements cannot conceal security failures or solve problems.”
He questioned why Pakistani security authorities had failed to prevent the attack if they were able to quickly identify the perpetrator.
Khwarizmi called on Pakistani security officials to fulfil their responsibilities in maintaining security, review their policies and pursue engagement and positive cooperation with neighbouring countries rather than creating tensions.
