Kabul, February 8: Afghanistan‘s National Defense Ministry has dismissed Pakistan’s allegations regarding the recent attack on a mosque in Islamabad, labeling them as “irresponsible and baseless.” The ministry advised Pakistan to take responsibility for its internal security rather than shifting the blame onto others.
Local media reported on the matter following comments from Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, who suggested that the attack was linked to Afghanistan.
Ariana News reported that the Afghan National Defense Ministry criticized Asif for hastily blaming Afghanistan for the attack without proper investigation. They noted a consistent pattern in security lapses, whether in Balochistan or other incidents within Pakistan.
The ministry stated that there is “no rationale or basis” for linking such attacks to Afghanistan, asserting that these statements cannot conceal Pakistan’s internal security failures or contribute to solving the problem.
They questioned, “If they were truly able to identify the perpetrators immediately after the incident, why couldn’t they prevent it beforehand?”
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to Islamic values, which, they stated, do not permit harm to innocent civilians under any circumstances. They urged Pakistani security officials to take responsibility for their internal security shortcomings, review their policies, and adopt a more constructive and cooperative approach towards their citizens and neighboring countries.
On Friday, a suicide bombing in Islamabad claimed at least 36 lives. According to the Pakistani daily Dawn, over 160 people were injured during the attack at the Imam Bargah Kaser-e-Khadijatul Kubra during Friday prayers.
Meanwhile, local media reported that authorities identified the suspected attacker as a resident of Peshawar, who allegedly received terrorist training in Afghanistan.
The Express Tribune of Pakistan cited initial information from sources involved in the investigation, revealing that the attacker, identified as Yasir Khan Yasir, reportedly spent nearly five months in Afghanistan before returning to Pakistan.
Investigators are also looking into potential links between the suspect and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). However, officials noted that the investigation is still in its early stages, and no final conclusions have been drawn.