ISLAMABAD_ Authorities have arrested four members of an Afghan-linked cell allegedly involved in the deadly Islamabad bombing outside a district court earlier this week. The attack, which occurred on November 11, 2025, killed 12 people and injured dozens, and was claimed by a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to a government statement, the arrested cell was directed by the TTP high command based in Afghanistan, orchestrating the Islamabad bombing from across the border. Officials identified the bomber as Usman, also known as Qari, a resident of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, directly linked to the Islamabad bombing. Pakistani authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected.
Details of the Plot
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the Senate that the bomber was Afghan, and one suspect, Sajid Ullah, revealed that the attack was orchestrated by Pakistan Taliban commander Saeed-ur-Rehman, also known as Daadullah, via the Telegram messaging app. Daadullah, part of the TTP’s intelligence wing and originally from Pakistan’s Bajaur region, remains in hiding in Afghanistan.
The government stated that the bomber was assisted in crossing the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan and that the arrested men were detained in a joint operation by the Intelligence Bureau and the Counter-Terrorism Department, directly connected to the Islamabad bombing.
Rising Cross-Border Tensions
Islamabad has largely been spared from such attacks in recent years, with the last Islamabad bombing recorded in December 2022. However, Pakistan is currently witnessing a resurgence of violence, which officials link to militants allegedly operating from Afghan territory.
Recent attacks, including the Cadet College Wana assault, which killed three soldiers and all assailants over a 20-hour gun battle, have further strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. The Taliban government in Kabul has expressed “deep sorrow and condemnation” but has not directly addressed Pakistan’s accusations regarding the Islamabad bombing.
Political and Diplomatic Fallout
The Islamabad bombing and arrests come amid a fragile ceasefire between the two countries, which has struggled due to mutual accusations. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing parliament, called the Islamabad bombing a “horrific act of terrorism” and emphasized Pakistan’s desire for peace and cooperation with Afghanistan.
Analysts warn that the attacks and the revelation of Afghan-linked TTP involvement could trigger renewed hostilities, potentially undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts for regional stability, with the Islamabad bombing as a stark reminder of persistent cross-border threats.
