Pakistan arrested four members of an Afghan-linked cell in connection with a suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad that killed 12 people and injured dozens.

The attack was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and was allegedly directed by Pakistan Taliban commander Saeed-ur-Rehman, operating from Afghanistan.

The bomber, identified as Usman alias Qari from Nangarhar province, was guided into Pakistan via orders over Telegram.

The arrests were made by Pakistan’s Intelligence Bureau and Counter-Terrorism Department amid a resurgence of violence linked to armed groups allegedly based in Afghanistan, Al-Jazeera has reported.

The incidents have strained ties between Islamabad and Kabul, threatening renewed cross-border hostilities despite a fragile ceasefire agreement.