Following a devastating suicide Attack near the Islamabad District Courts, which claimed the lives of at least 12 people and left 21 others injured, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described the incident as a “wake-up call” for Pakistan. Speaking to reporters after the attack, the minister warned that the assault carried a “clear message from Kabul,” suggesting that the threat of terrorism has once again crossed into Pakistan’s heartland.
Khawaja Asif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and condemned the perpetrators behind the cowardly act. He emphasized that the attack underscores a resurgent wave of terrorism, which is no longer limited to the country’s border regions. “This tragedy reminds us that terrorism is not an issue confined to the peripheries. It is now knocking at our doors,” he said, urging the nation’s security and intelligence agencies to intensify their efforts to eliminate militant networks.
The Defence Minister asserted that Pakistan remains fully capable of responding decisively to any threat to its sovereignty and stability. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protect citizens and maintain law and order, noting that “the state possesses both the will and the means to respond firmly.” He further stated that the government would not allow hostile forces to destabilize the country or reverse the progress made in counterterrorism efforts over the past decade.
Khawaja Asif’s remarks came amid growing concerns about the reemergence of militant activity in different parts of the country, particularly after recent cross-border incidents and intelligence warnings of planned attacks. His statement also hinted at mounting frustration within Islamabad regarding Kabul’s inaction against militant elements believed to be operating from Afghan soil.
Security officials have since heightened vigilance in and around the federal capital, with checkpoints, surveillance, and patrolling being reinforced. The government has also vowed to conduct a thorough investigation to identify and dismantle the network behind the attack.
Calling for national unity in the face of renewed threats, the Defence Minister urged political parties and civil society to stand together against terrorism. “This is not just an attack on Islamabad — it is an attack on our peace, our resilience, and our future,” he said. “Pakistan is at war, and we will fight back with strength and determination.”
