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

Pakistan has announced the arrest of four militants suspected of involvement in a deadly suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad, the capital city. The attack, which took place on Tuesday, resulted in the deaths of 12 people and left 28 others wounded. The suspects are believed to be members of the banned group Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates independently but is closely tied to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Among the arrested, Sajid Ullah is thought to have played a key role in handling the bomb used in the attack. The arrests were made following a coordinated operation by Pakistan's Intelligence Bureau and Counter-Terrorism Department. This breakthrough comes shortly after Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi suggested that Afghan nationals were behind not only the Islamabad bombing but also an earlier attack in the northwestern city of Wana. Ullah reportedly confessed that Saeed-ur-Rehman, a TTP commander also known as Daadullah, orchestrated the Islamabad attack through communications on the Telegram app. Daadullah, who hails from Pakistan's Bajaur region and is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan, allegedly sent images of the suicide bomber—an Afghan resident from Nangarhar province—and instructed Ullah to receive and accommodate him after crossing into Pakistan. Ullah then arranged a hideout for the attacker near Islamabad and procured the explosive vest from a graveyard in Peshawar before transporting it to the capital. In related violence, an attack on a cadet college in Wana saw gunmen engage in a nearly 20-hour firefight with security forces, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers and all the attackers. These incidents highlight a worsening security situation in Pakistan, especially as Islamabad, previously considered relatively safe, experiences rising militancy. The deteriorating climate fuels tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government amid a fragile cross-border ceasefire. Despite these attacks, the Pakistani government has expressed a willingness to pursue dialogue with Afghanistan’s Taliban regime. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently extended an offer to engage in peace talks, emphasizing the need for Kabul to control militant activities targeting Pakistan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi acknowledged support from Qatar and Turkey in facilitating these talks and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to resolving issues through diplomacy. However, Andrabi criticized Afghanistan’s government for failing to act on promises to rein in militants, accusing it of disguising terrorists as refugees. He highlighted internal divisions within the Afghan Taliban, with some factions opposing confrontation with Pakistan, while others allegedly receive foreign funding to stir conflict. These developments are straining goodwill between the two neighbors, complicating efforts toward lasting peace. The report was contributed by journalists Riaz Khan, Rasool Dawar, and Ishtiaq Mahsud from various cities within Pakistan. The ongoing investigation and diplomatic efforts illustrate Pakistan’s challenges in balancing security concerns with regional stability.