The deadly suicide bomb blast in Pakistan’s Islamabad that killed at least 12 people was carried out by Pakistan Taliban. The group claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday stating, “Judges, lawyers and officials who carried out rulings under Pakistan’s un-Islamic laws were targeted.” They threatened Pakistan of more attacks until Islamic Sharia law is implemented in the country.
What is Pakistan Taliban?
The group, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is an extremist group that constitutes several Pashtun militant outfits from Pakistan’s tribal areas. It mainly operates along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and aims to bring in the Sharia law in Pakistan.
The TTP has carried out over 600 attacks across Pakistan this year, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, according to The Guardian. These attacks have killed hundreds of people. But the suicide bombing on Tuesday was the most serious attack to hit Islamabad in recent times.
The Pakistan government has accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering and helping TTP militants by providing them with weapons and protection, but Afghan authorities have denied these allegations.
Pak-Afghan cross-border terrorism
Tensions between the two countries grew last month when deadly clashes broke out along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, leaving dozens dead. Although both sides later began ceasefire talks, they have not been able to reach any agreement on how to stop cross-border terrorism.
Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Asif, said the suicide bombing should serve as a warning about the growing terror threat the country faces along its borders and now even in its capital. He stressed that Pakistan was in a state of war, not only in border areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, but also within major cities.
Asif added that the TTP attack has raised serious doubts about whether peace talks with the Afghan Taliban can succeed. He said that given the current situation, it seems pointless to expect meaningful progress in negotiations with Afghanistan’s rulers.
The group is currently operating under the leadership of Noor Wali Mehsud.