A wave of terror struck South Asia as India’s capital New Delhi and Pakistan’s capital Islamabad were hit by car bomb explosions within 24 hours, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens more. The near-simultaneous attacks have reignited regional security concerns and prompted international condemnation.
In New Delhi, the blast occurred near the iconic Red Fort on Monday (Nov 10), leaving 13 dead and 21 injured. Witnesses described a massive fireball shooting several meters into the air, with nearby vehicles and buildings heavily damaged. Among the dead were three occupants of the explosive-laden car. Authorities identified the suspected bomber as Dr. Nabi, a medical practitioner from Pulwama in Kashmir, suggesting a possible suicide attack. Initial investigations indicate that the vehicle changed hands multiple times before being taken over by suspected militants. Police are probing possible links to Kashmiri separatist and extremist groups.
Just hours later, Islamabad was rocked by another car bombing outside a district court on Tuesday afternoon, killing at least 12 people and wounding 27. Eyewitness footage showed thick plumes of black smoke and burning vehicles at the scene. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Naqvi said the attacker had attempted to enter the courthouse but failed, ultimately detonating the vehicle near a police convoy. Security forces have cordoned off the area, and an anti-terror task force is investigating possible connections to regional militant networks.
The twin attacks have raised fears of cross-border militant coordination and further destabilization in an already tense region. Both Indian and Pakistani authorities have tightened security and vowed swift action. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “cowardly act of terror” and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice, while Pakistan’s leadership ordered a nationwide security alert.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and U.K. embassies in both countries have urged their citizens to avoid affected areas and maintain distance from the India-Pakistan border zone within 10 kilometers.
The incidents mark one of the deadliest coordinated assaults in the subcontinent in recent years, underscoring the persistent volatility of Indo-Pak relations and the continuing threat posed by extremist factions operating across the region.