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Pakistan says Islamabad suicide bomber came from Afghanistan, alleges India-Taliban links

By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the suicide bomber behind the deadly Friday's suicide attack on a mosque in Islamabad had traveled to and from Afghanistan, adding that initial evidence points to possible links between India and the Taliban.

In a statement posted on X, Asif said, “Those who martyred worshippers in the mosque are enemies of both religion and the nation. The terrorist involved in the attack has been proven to have traveled to and from Afghanistan. Evidence is emerging that proves links between India and the Taliban.”

He added that security guards had challenged the suspect, who opened fire before detonating himself among worshippers. “Security guards challenged him, to which he responded by opening fire and then detonating himself in the last row of worshippers,” the minister said.

Vowing a strong response, Asif stated, “God willing, the state will respond to this oppression with full force.” He further alleged that India was pursuing conflict through proxy groups following what he described as a “humiliating defeat,” claiming it no longer had the courage to engage in direct confrontation.

Authorities are continuing investigations into the attack, which caused 31 death and nearly 170 injured.