Kabul, Feb 8 (NationPress) The Ministry of National Defence in Afghanistan has dismissed the accusations from Pakistan regarding the mosque attack in Islamabad as irresponsible and baseless. They have called on Pakistani authorities to acknowledge their own failures in maintaining internal security, according to local media reports.

This response follows a statement from Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who claimed that initial investigations suggest the attacker had traversed between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In its statement, Afghanistan's National Defence Ministry criticized Asif for placing blame on Afghanistan without conducting thorough investigations. Afghan officials noted that this trend has recurred, particularly concerning incidents in Balochistan and various security events in Pakistan, as reported by Ariana News.

The ministry asserted that linking such incidents to Afghanistan lacks logic or foundation, emphasizing that these claims do not conceal Pakistan's internal security issues. The statement questioned: "If they were able to identify the assailants so quickly after the attack, why couldn't they prevent it?"

They reiterated their commitment to Islamic principles, which prohibit harming innocent civilians, urging Pakistani security officials to take accountability for their security lapses and to adopt a more collaborative approach towards the people of Pakistan and neighboring countries, as per Ariana News.

The tragic suicide bombing in Islamabad claimed the lives of 36 individuals last Friday, with local media stating over 160 injuries were reported. The attack occurred at Imambargah Qasr-i-Khadijatul Kubra during Friday prayers, according to Dawn.

Authorities have identified the alleged attacker as a resident of Peshawar, who reportedly received militant training in Afghanistan, local sources indicate.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect, Yasir Khan, had spent nearly five months in Afghanistan before returning to Pakistan, as reported by The Express Tribune.

Investigators are also probing possible ties between the suspect and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), though officials have cautioned that the investigation is still in its early phases, with no definitive conclusions reached.

Sources revealed that Yasir Khan, influenced by the Salafi school of thought, is believed to have undergone militant training during his time across the border.

According to a source, "He received training at the Mansoor Istashhadi training center in Kunar province, Afghanistan, and made multiple trips across the border."