(New Delhi/Islamabad Combined Dispatch) Two explosions have occurred in South Asia in recent days. A car bomb exploded in the Red Fort area of New Delhi, India, on Monday, killing at least 13 people and injuring about 20. The following day, a suicide bombing outside a courthouse in Islamabad, Pakistan, killed and injured nearly 40 people. The local Taliban has claimed responsibility for the suicide attacks. Currently, there is no evidence linking the two incidents.
The Red Fort (Lal Qila) in New Delhi's old city is one of India's most iconic national landmarks, surrounded by dense crowds. On Monday (November 10th) at around 6 pm (9 pm Singapore time), a car exploded near the Red Fort metro station, quickly igniting a fire that spread to nearby vehicles, causing dozens of deaths and injuries.
A 27-year-old eyewitness, Dharmindra Daga, described the incident with lingering fear: “I saw a car explode while it was moving…people were on fire, and we tried to save them, but the car and the people were burning.”
Television footage showed people running near the burned-out vehicles after the explosion, with shattered glass and debris scattered on the road. Witnesses said the explosion was so powerful that even the windows of vehicles parked some distance away were shattered.
New Delhi police cordoned off the blast area after the incident, and the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The Indian government immediately issued a nationwide alert and strengthened security measures in densely populated areas. Authorities declared a state of high alert in several states, including Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, as well as at airports across the country.
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Police say the investigation is in its early stages and the nature of the explosion is still unclear. There is no information yet about the occupants of the vehicle, but it is presumed they have perished. Authorities are searching for the vehicle's owner.
Given the seriousness of the incident, Indian police have opened a case under the Anti-Terrorism Law (Prevention of Unlawful Activities), the Explosives Act, and other criminal laws. These laws aim to investigate and prosecute acts related to "terrorism" and those endangering national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday (11th) that investigative agencies are conducting a swift and comprehensive investigation and will release the results soon.
Indian Prime Minister Modi, who is currently on a scheduled visit to neighboring Bhutan, stated on Tuesday: "Our agencies will thoroughly investigate this conspiracy and will not let those behind it go unpunished. All those responsible will be brought to justice."
A suicide bombing struck Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, on Tuesday, the day after the bombings in India, killing at least 12 people and injuring about 27, some in critical condition.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it targeted judges, lawyers, and judicial officials who did not adhere to Sharia law, and vowed to continue more attacks "until Sharia law is implemented in this Muslim-majority country."
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi revealed that the attacker attempted to enter the courthouse but detonated the explosive device near a police vehicle after lingering for about 10 to 15 minutes. He said, "We are investigating this incident from different angles. This is not just an ordinary explosion; it happened in Islamabad."
Lawyer Bout, who was at the scene at the time, described the explosion as extremely powerful. “Everyone ran into the courthouse in a panic. I saw at least five bodies at the entrance.”
Before the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif blamed it on “India-backed terrorist proxies” without providing evidence. Pakistan has long considered India a sworn enemy.
In April of this year, an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 tourists. New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan-backed armed groups, which Pakistan denied. The incident subsequently led to several days of artillery and drone fire between the two militaries along the border, before a ceasefire was agreed upon a few days later.
