Pakistan says it has arrests 4 militants over involvement in suicide bombing at Islamabad court

Pakistani authorities announced on Friday the arrest of four militants tied to a deadly suicide bombing that took place outside a district court in Islamabad earlier this week. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, claimed the lives of 12 people and injured 28 others, marking a major security incident in the capital. These suspects are believed to be members of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group closely aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan but operating separately. One of the arrested men, Sajid Ullah, is thought to have directly handled the explosives used in the bombing. According to statements from the government, these arrests were made possible through a coordinated effort between Pakistan’s Intelligence Bureau and Counter-Terrorism Department. Ullah revealed during interrogation that the attack was ordered by a TTP commander named Saeed-ur-Rehman, also known as Daadullah, who is currently believed to be hiding in Afghanistan. Communication and orders were reportedly passed through the Telegram messaging app. The government further detailed that Daadullah sent Ullah pictures of the suicide bomber, an Afghan national from Nangarhar province, and instructed him to receive the attacker after he crossed into Pakistan. Ullah arranged a place for the bomber to stay near Islamabad and later obtained the suicide vest from a graveyard in Peshawar before transporting it to the capital. These arrests come shortly after Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi pointed the finger at Afghan nationals for carrying out not only the Islamabad courthouse bombing but also an earlier attack in Wana, a northwestern city. The Wana attack involved gunmen storming a cadet college, resulting in a nearly 20-hour gun battle, the deaths of three soldiers, and all the assailants. These incidents highlight a worsening security situation in Pakistan, especially with a resurgence of militant activity that threatens to destabilize the country further. Islamabad, once considered relatively safe compared to Pakistan's northwest region, has now witnessed a significant spike in violence. Relations between Islamabad and Kabul are increasingly strained amid ongoing cross-border tensions and a fragile ceasefire agreement. Despite this, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently extended an offer to engage in peace talks with Afghanistan's Taliban-led government, urging them to take serious steps to rein in the TTP militants. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi publicly thanked Qatar and Turkey for their roles in facilitating dialogue with Kabul. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to resolving conflicts through negotiations while expressing frustration over what Islamabad views as Kabul’s failure to control militant groups on its soil. Andrabi accused elements within the Afghan Taliban of hiding behind claims of refugee status to protect terrorists and suggested that foreign funding is fueling tensions. According to him, some factions within the Afghan Taliban do not want conflict with Pakistan, but powerful groups with external backing actively work to stoke hostilities. The situation remains delicate as Islamabad pushes for accountability and effective border controls while navigating complex diplomatic ties with Afghanistan’s current regime. The arrests of these four militants represent a significant but partial victory in Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and restore security in its capital and beyond.