Pakistan finds itself in a tense standoff with both Afghanistan and India. In May, a brief four-day conflict erupted with India, and more recently, Pakistan executed airstrikes in Afghanistan, including in Kabul. These actions were justified by Pakistani authorities as a response to the alleged presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan.

In recent years, Pakistani Taliban militants have increasingly targeted the nation’s security forces, escalating tensions within the region.

In a tragic development, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device, resulting in the death of 12 individuals and injuring many others. This incident marks a significant breach of security, as Islamabad had not witnessed civilian casualties of this nature for a decade, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, which monitors such attacks.

In response to these events, India’s foreign ministry issued a strong statement, dismissing Pakistan’s allegations. “India unequivocally rejects the baseless and unfounded allegations being made by an obviously delirious Pakistani leadership,” the ministry declared.

Islamabad says that the Pakistani Taliban and other militants are based in Afghanistan, with the support of India.

“We are totally clear that Afghanistan has to stop them. In case of a failure, we have no option but to take care of those terrorists who are attacking our country,” interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said, speaking at the scene of the court bombing.

Naqvi said that the school assailants were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan during the attack.

He said the authorities are investigating the backers of the court bombing, adding that an attack in Islamabad “carried a lot of messages”.

“India unequivocally rejects the baseless and unfounded allegations being made by an obviously delirious Pakistani leadership,” said India’s foreign ministry.

The Taliban administration in Kabul said in a statement that it “expresses its deep sorrow and condemnation” of the attacks.

A spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on Pakistan’s accusations.

Afghanistan denies that its territory is used for attacks on other countries.

The attacks in Pakistan came a day after an explosion in the Indian capital, which killed eight people.

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