Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defence dismissed Pakistan’s accusations regarding the mosque attack in Islamabad as “irresponsible and baseless.” They urged Pakistani officials to acknowledge their internal security lapses. This response followed Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s claim that the attacker had links to Afghanistan.
The Afghan National Defence Ministry criticized Asif for hastily blaming Afghanistan without proper investigation. They highlighted a recurring pattern of such accusations, especially concerning incidents in Balochistan. The ministry emphasized that linking attacks to Afghanistan lacks substance and cannot conceal Pakistan’s security failures.
The ministry emphasized adherence to Islamic values that prohibit harming innocent civilians. They called on Pakistani security officials to address their security shortcomings, review policies, and adopt a more collaborative approach with neighboring nations. The suicide bombing in Islamabad claimed 36 lives and left over 160 injured during Friday prayers.
Authorities identified the suspected attacker as a Peshawar resident who allegedly received militant training in Afghanistan. The attacker, Yasir Khan Yasir, reportedly spent five months in Afghanistan before returning to Pakistan. Investigators are exploring possible links to the Islamic State Khorasan Province but stressed that the investigation is ongoing.
Yasir Khan, influenced by the Salafi school of thought, is believed to have trained at a center in Afghanistan’s Kunar province. He traveled back and forth between the two countries, receiving militant training. The investigation is still in its early stages, and no definitive conclusions have been reached.
