Pakistan Declares 'State of War' After Deadly Islamabad Suicide Blast

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has declared the nation is in a 'state of war' following a devastating suicide bombing outside a court in Islamabad that killed 12 people and injured over 30. The attack, which occurred when an assailant detonated explosives near a police vehicle after failing to enter the court building, has been described as a significant wake-up call for Pakistan. Minister Asif explicitly stated that the 'rulers in Kabul' must cease supporting terrorism within Pakistan, framing the attack on Islamabad as a message from Afghanistan that Pakistan possesses the resilience to counter. He further indicated that expectations of successful negotiations with the Taliban are diminishing in light of such escalating violence. This sentiment was shared on the social media platform X, where Asif emphasized that the ongoing conflict extends beyond border regions and remote areas, impacting all of Pakistan, with the army making daily sacrifices to ensure public safety. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has attributed the blast to India, accusing New Delhi of sponsoring terrorism to destabilize Pakistan, an allegation India has vehemently denied, calling it baseless and part of Pakistan's strategy to create false narratives. The incident follows a recent surge in terror activities, including a separate suicide attack in South Waziristan that injured six people.