Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif

Pakistan’s capital Islamabad was shaken by a massive explosion on Tuesday. A suicide bomber blew himself up near a police vehicle outside the district court. At least 12 people died and more than 27 were injured in the blast. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of Pakistani Taliban (TTP), has taken responsibility for the attack.

Group leader Omar Makkaram Khurshani sent a message to journalists claiming that his organization carried out the attack. However, another commander of the group, Sarbaqaf Mohammad, denied this claim. This attack is more worrying for the Pakistani government because TTP is already active in many areas of the country, and now the access of its old ally to the capital raises big questions on the security preparedness of Islamabad.

Who is Jamaat-ul-Ahrar?

This is the same Jamaat-ul-Ahrar which broke ties with TTP after the death of its leader in the year 2022. However, in recent months, some of its members have rejoined the TTP, while many are still working separately. This clearly reflects the differences between the two groups.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar was once a part of TTP. The aim of both groups has been to implement Shariat law in Pakistan and establish Islamic rule on the lines of Afghan Taliban.

Double trouble for Pakistan

After the attack, Pakistan’s Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed India for this attack. However he did not present any evidence. India described these allegations as baseless and a distraction, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the international community will not be misled by these moves of Pakistan.

Analysts believe that Jamaat-ul-Ahrar’s attack in Islamabad is a new warning signal for Pakistan. Amidst the already increasing activities of TTP, border tension and delicate relations with Afghan Taliban, this attack can further increase the problems of the government.