Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan has no interest in fighting India or Afghanistan, but also said it would “repay the same amount” if Pakistan becomes a target of an enemy after a suicide bomb attack in Islamabad killed at least 12 people and injured more than 30 others, Arab News reported.
The attack took place at the entrance to a court complex in the capital’s G11 district, which was crowded with litigants and lawyers at the time. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tallah said all those who orchestrated the suicide bombings would be identified and brought to justice, while also referring to another militant attack targeting a cadet college in the northwestern Wana district, where security officials said all the attackers were killed.
Islamabad authorities blamed the militant umbrella group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for carrying out both attacks. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harboring TTP fighters and facilitating cross-border attacks with Indian support, but Kabul and New Delhi deny the accusations.
Insurgent attacks have strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with border clashes breaking out last month and talks brokered by Qatar and Turkey failing. Afghanistan’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the attacks in Wana and Islamabad.
“Condemning or expressing regret (for the attack) is not considered evidence of truth,” the defense minister said in an interview with Geo TV. “Security officials have told us that terrorists (in the trap) were in contact with Afghans. We have the capabilities. We can deal with them.”
He said Pakistan does not want to be drawn into such conflicts, adding that it is focused on strengthening its economy.