By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s security agencies say the recent suicide bombing in the capital, Islamabad, points to a renewed threat from the militant group Daesh, raising concerns about regional security as authorities warn of expanding recruitment and cross-border networks.

 

Security sources described a “major breakthrough” in the investigation after intelligence-driven raids in Peshawar and Nowshera led to the arrest of four facilitators and the alleged Afghan mastermind behind the attack.

The operations, conducted using both technical and human intelligence, resulted in the death of one security official and injuries to three others when suspects opened fire.

 

Officials said the planning, training, and indoctrination for the suicide mission were carried out in Afghanistan. They warned that Daesh, alongside other militant organizations, poses a serious risk to regional and global peace.

 

The suicide bomber, identified as a young man from Peshawar, was allegedly recruited by Daesh and used in the attack, which targeted a Shia Muslim imambargah during Friday prayers. The blast killed at least 31 people and wounded 169 in one of the deadliest assaults in the capital in recent years.

 

Pakistani officials have expressed concern that militant groups are gaining strength in Afghanistan, claiming that fighters, including some reportedly relocated from Syria last year, are regrouping and expanding their presence.

 

Authorities also allege that advanced weaponry left behind after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has fallen into the hands of groups such as Daesh, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.

 

Security officials further claimed that India is providing financial backing to militant proxies while logistical support is being facilitated by elements within Afghanistan. allegations rejected in the past by New Delhi and Kabul.

 

Analyst Abdul Saboor said Daesh appears to be re-emerging by recruiting unemployed youth in Afghanistan and Pakistan, warning that the threat could extend beyond Pakistan if not contained.

“Intelligence agencies should closely monitor these groups and their facilitators, as this could become a major challenge for the entire region,” he said, adding that multiple militant organizations may increasingly coordinate their activities.

 

Authorities noted that further intelligence-based operations against suspected militants are ongoing as investigators work to dismantle the network behind the Islamabad attack.