12 Dead in Islamabad Blast; Pakistan Declares ‘State of War’

A grim incident unfolded in Islamabad as a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a district court, claiming 12 lives and leaving more than 30 wounded. In response, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared the country is in a ‘state of war,’ stressing that the attack was a clear message from the ‘rulers in Kabul’ that terrorism must be stopped. Minister Asif communicated via X that Pakistan possesses the capability to retaliate effectively. He urged the nation to view the bombing not just as a border issue but as a pervasive threat to all of Pakistan, underlining the significant sacrifices being made by the armed forces. The perpetrator was reportedly prevented from entering the court premises before detonating the device near a police vehicle. Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused India of sponsoring terrorism to destabilize Pakistan, a claim India has firmly denied. The nation has been grappling with an uptick in terrorist activities, including a recent bombing in the South Waziristan district.