Pakistan is in a state of war, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday after a deadly suicide blast in Islamabad. At least 12 people were killed and 36 were injured in the attack near district courts. The bombing took place while major international events were happening in the capital, including the Margalla Dialogue and an international parliamentary conference.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif blamed the attack on terrorists backed by India. The attack came shortly after talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban collapsed. Asif said the blast proved that terrorism is no longer limited to the border areas. He added that the entire country must understand the seriousness of the threat.
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Asif said that expecting positive talks with Kabul after the attack was a waste of time. He stated that Kabul must stop terrorists operating from Afghan soil. According to him, the attack inside Islamabad was a message from Kabul. He warned that Pakistan had the strength to respond firmly.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been rising for weeks. Earlier border clashes led to deaths on both sides. Multiple rounds of peace talks were held in Doha and Istanbul with the help of Turkey and Qatar. However, no final agreement has been reached. Pakistan continues to lose security personnel in counter-terror operations.
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Asif repeated that Pakistan is in a state of war and that the nation must stay united. He said the army is making daily sacrifices to protect the country. He stressed that terrorism will not be allowed to spread and that Pakistan will continue to defend its people at all costs.