Mastermind, facilitators of ‘Indian-sponsored’ Islamabad Imambaragh attack lassoed from KP: Naqvi

• Interior Minister says Islamabad imambargah suicide attack traced to terror groups being ‘financed, directed’ by India and operating from Afghan soil
• Says four facilitators and Afghan mastermind arrested in KP raids, lauding KP CTD and Police for swift joint operations
• Calls incident a ‘test case’ for counterterrorism efforts, says raids conducted in Peshawar and Nowshera successfully neutralized key suspects
• Stresses Pakistan acting as ‘defensive wall’ against spillover of terrorism in region, warning weakening of this barrier would have consequences beyond Pakistan’s borders
• Outlines security upgrades for federal capital, announcing measures including reinforcement of 93 entry points into Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday accused India of “financing and directing” terrorist networks operating from Afghan soil, revealing that four facilitators of the Islamabad imambargah suicide attack—including the main mastermind—had been arrested during raids in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Operations were underway throughout the night to trace those behind the attack, and all individuals linked to the incident, including the mastermind, were apprehended by around 3 a.m.,” Naqvi said, highlighting the joint efforts of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, the interior minister praised all security agencies for their swift response, describing the incident as a “test case” for the country’s counterterrorism apparatus.

“Following the blast, raids were conducted in Nowshera and Peshawar, during which four facilitators were arrested. The mastermind, an Afghan national, was also taken into custody,” he said.

He said that an assistant sub-inspector of KP police was martyred during the raids, while others were injured.

“But the main mastermind is linked to Daesh and is in our custody,” he said, referring to the banned so-called Islamic State.

Addressing a press conference, Naqvi said the attack was “planned, trained, and executed” by Daesh operatives based in Afghanistan, with foreign funding allegedly flowing in “directly in dollars.”

“Let me be very clear: India is funding them….. (India) is giving them their targets. India is planning every step for them,” the interior minister said. “These organizations are on their payroll. The world may remain silent today, but a day will come when every country will acknowledge who is sponsoring this terrorism.”

“All planning and training took place in Afghanistan. We now have people in custody who have provided complete details of how the attacker was transported, trained and sent back,” he revealed.

The interior minister maintained that terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daesh, and other foreign outfits were operating in coordination from Afghan territory. “There are 21 terrorist organizations currently based in Afghanistan. Even the United Nations has reported this,” he said.

Naqvi said Pakistan was acting as a “defensive wall” against the spillover of terrorism in the region, warning that any weakening of this barrier would have consequences beyond Pakistan’s borders. “If this wall weakens even slightly, others will feel the pain. Their budget has tripled since May,” he added.

He said the matter would be taken to international forums, adding that the Deputy Prime Minister would be briefed and Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad would present detailed briefings to the international community.

Responding to criticism of security agencies, Naqvi said that while isolated attacks occurred, the vast majority were being foiled. “If 100 attacks are being planned, 99 are blocked,” he said.

He urged the public to support security agencies by sharing timely intelligence. “We are in a state of war. When people report suspicious individuals, it activates the entire system,” he said.

The interior minister also accused Indian media of amplifying propaganda by banned militant outfits such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). “The BLA produces high-quality videos, carries out attacks, and those videos immediately appear on Indian television channels. Yet no one questions why,” he remarked.

Naqvi acknowledged resource constraints faced by Pakistan’s security apparatus, saying the available budget was far lower than commonly perceived. “I wish I could meet all the requirements of our security forces. There are small but critical needs that cannot be fulfilled due to financial limitations,” he said.

He further noted that terrorist groups possessed advanced American weapons and technology left behind in Afghanistan, creating a serious security imbalance that Pakistan must urgently address.

Outlining upcoming security upgrades for the federal capital, Naqvi said measures included reinforcement of 93 entry points into Islamabad, enhancements to the city’s smart-security system, and the recruitment of 6,000 new police personnel to address shortages caused by an aging force.

“We will close the gaps, Insha Allah. Pakistan remains safe, and we will continue fighting,” he said, adding that further briefings would be held as investigations progressed.