Pakistan Arrests 4 TTP Militants Linked to Deadly Islamabad Court Bombing

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Islamabad: In a major breakthrough, Pakistan's security agencies have apprehended four Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in connection with the recent suicide attack outside a court in Islamabad. The blast, which occurred on Tuesday, claimed the lives of 12 people and left 36 injured. According to an official statement, the TTP militants were arrested in a joint operation conducted by the Intelligence Bureau Division and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). The suspects were allegedly involved in planning and executing the attack to target law enforcement agencies. During interrogation, the handler of the suicide bomber, identified as Sajidullah alias Sheena, revealed that TTP commander Saeed-ur-Rehman alias Daadullah had instructed him to carry out the attack using a bomber from Afghanistan. Daadullah, a resident of Charmang in Bajaur district, is currently living in Afghanistan and serves as the TTP's Intelligence Chief for Nawagai, Bajaur. The investigation has also revealed that the suicide bomber, identified as Usman alias Qari, had been in touch with Sajidullah and was provided with a suicide jacket from Akhun Baba graveyard in Peshawar. The network behind the attack, including its commander and three other members, has been arrested, and further investigations are underway. This incident comes days after the third round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban failed to reach an agreement on tackling terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of harbouring the TTP, which has been responsible for a surge in attacks inside Pakistan since 2021. The TTP is closely allied with the Afghan Taliban and has been emboldened since the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021. The Pakistani government has urged the Afghan Taliban to take concrete actions against the TTP elements present on Afghan soil and to prevent cross-border attacks. The TTP has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including the 2009 attack on the army headquarters and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.