Pakistan on Edge After Islamabad Blast: Minister Warns of ‘State of War,’ Fears Over ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’

Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad, was rocked by a deadly suicide bombing outside a district court complex on Tuesday, killing at least 12 people and injuring over two dozen others, in what authorities are calling one of the most brazen terror strikes of the year.

Following the explosion, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that the country was now in a “state of war”, amid speculation within Pakistani media circles about a possible “Operation Sindoor 2.0” — a phrase increasingly used to describe Pakistan’s fear of a renewed Indian counter-terror offensive.

TTP Claims Responsibility, Pakistan in Shock

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was part of its ongoing campaign against the Pakistani state. The bomber detonated himself at a busy entry gate of the court premises during morning hours, when lawyers and civilians were arriving for proceedings.

Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as vehicles burned and glass shattered, with rescue teams rushing victims to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital.

“Anyone who thinks that the Pakistan Army is fighting this war only in the Afghan-Pakistan border region or in the remote areas of Balochistan — today’s attack at the Islamabad district courts is a wake-up call,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said in a televised address.

‘State of War’ and Mounting Security Death Toll

The Islamabad bombing marks the fifth major terror strike in less than two months, pushing the death toll of security personnel to over 1,100 in 2025 alone.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, more than 60 attacks have been carried out by militant groups this year, primarily targeting army convoys and intelligence outposts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Khawaja Asif said the country must “unite under one command” to fight what he called a “war of survival.”

“The line between internal and external threats has vanished,” he warned, urging political rivals to “set aside differences and stand with the armed forces.”

Blame Game: Pakistan Points at India, Afghanistan

Within hours of the blast, several Pakistani commentators and security officials began hinting at foreign involvement, with some blaming both Afghanistan and India.

Unnamed military sources quoted in Pakistani media accused “external elements” of backing the TTP, while others alleged that “Indian intelligence agencies” were attempting to destabilise Pakistan ahead of next year’s general elections.

However, New Delhi has categorically denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and politically motivated.”

“India has no role in Pakistan’s internal instability. Such accusations are routinely used by Islamabad to deflect from its own security failures,” an Indian government official told All India Story.

‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’: Pakistan’s Growing Paranoia

The reference to “Operation Sindoor 2.0” — an unverified term circulating on Pakistani social media — stems from speculation that India could launch a new wave of precision counter-terror operations, similar to the 2016 surgical strikes (Operation Sindoor) and 2019 Balakot airstrikes following the Pulwama attack.

While the Indian government has made no statements suggesting fresh military action, Pakistan’s political and defence analysts have cited “strategic fears” of Indian retaliation in light of recent terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The timing of the Islamabad blast, combined with Pakistan’s economic crisis and political instability, has revived fears of external intervention,” said Islamabad-based analyst Majid Nizami.

TTP’s Expanding Network and Afghan Links

The TTP, a banned outfit closely aligned with the Afghan Taliban, has intensified its insurgency since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in 2021.

Intelligence sources claim that hundreds of Pakistani Taliban fighters have regrouped across the border in eastern Afghanistan, launching attacks against Pakistani military and police posts.

Despite repeated diplomatic protests, Pakistan has failed to secure firm counterterror commitments from the Taliban regime in Kabul, which maintains ambiguous ties with the TTP.

“Islamabad is now paying the price for its decades-long policy of nurturing militant proxies,” said a retired Pakistani army colonel.

Pakistan’s Internal Security Crisis Deepens

The Islamabad bombing underscores a worsening internal security environment in Pakistan, where economic collapse, political fragmentation, and public distrust of the military have created conditions ripe for extremist resurgence.

Civil society groups have criticised the government for focusing on political crackdowns rather than counterterror strategy. Opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accused the government of “failing to protect citizens while pursuing political vendettas.”

Meanwhile, the Army and ISI have launched extensive raids in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Balochistan, reportedly detaining over 150 suspected militants in the past 24 hours.

India’s Strategic Watch

Indian intelligence agencies are closely monitoring developments following the Islamabad attack, with analysts warning that Pakistan’s internal chaos could have regional spillover effects.

New Delhi has maintained that Pakistan must “act decisively” against terror groups operating from its soil instead of “diverting attention through unfounded allegations.”

“Pakistan’s instability is a self-created fire. The Red Fort blast investigation in India and the Islamabad attack show how terror networks feed off each other across borders,” said a senior Indian security official.

The Bottom Line

As Pakistan grapples with rising terrorism and political uncertainty, Khawaja Asif’s declaration of a “state of war” reflects a deepening crisis — one that extends beyond its borders into the volatile matrix of South Asian security.

While the government scrambles to regain control, speculation over “Operation Sindoor 2.0” reveals the extent of Pakistan’s fear — that any misstep could invite a swift Indian response reminiscent of its past precision operations.

For now, Islamabad faces a grim truth: its internal war on terror may be the hardest one yet.