India’s government has confirmed that the car explosion which killed eight people and injured at least 20 others near Delhi’s historic Red Fort earlier this week is being treated as a terrorist attack. Authorities have pledged to identify and prosecute those responsible “with utmost urgency.”

The blast occurred on Monday evening outside the Red Fort, marking the first major explosion in the capital since 2011. The site, one of Delhi’s most heavily guarded areas, was quickly cordoned off as forensic teams and anti-terror units began investigations.

In a resolution adopted late Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet described the incident as “a heinous terror act perpetrated by anti-national forces through a car explosion,” directing investigators to ensure that “the perpetrators, their collaborators, and sponsors are brought to justice without delay.”

Investigators Probe Kashmir Connection

According to three sources familiar with the investigation, police are examining potential links between the blast and the recent arrest of seven men in Jammu and Kashmir, including two doctors. Those arrests, made just hours before the Delhi explosion, followed coordinated raids across Kashmir and the neighboring states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Police said the suspects were allegedly connected to Pakistan-based militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammad and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, and that large quantities of weapons and bomb-making materials — about 2,900 kilograms — were seized during the raids.

“The investigation revealed a white-collar terror network involving radicalised professionals and students in contact with foreign handlers,” Kashmir police said in a statement.

Investigators are now checking whether the driver of the car that exploded in Delhi had any links to those detained in Kashmir, including one of the doctors. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe, though neither NIA nor Delhi Police officials have issued public comments so far, Reuters reported.

Heightened Security and Raids

Following the Delhi blast, police in Kashmir launched widespread searches across hundreds of locations, detaining about 500 people for questioning, sources said. Most were released after preliminary interrogations.

India has long accused Pakistan of supporting militant groups operating in Kashmir — claims Islamabad denies. Decades of conflict over the disputed Himalayan region have left tens of thousands dead, though violence has decreased in recent years.

The latest attack has reignited security concerns in the capital and renewed calls for stronger counterterrorism coordination across states. As investigations continue, authorities have yet to name any suspects or announce arrests directly linked to the Delhi explosion.

Iran wants to reach a “peaceful” nuclear agreement with the United States to resolve a decades-long dispute, but will not compromise its national security, the deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said on Tuesday.

The United States, its European allies and Israel accuse Tehran of using its nuclear programme as a veil for efforts to try to develop the capability to produce weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.

In October, President Donald Trump said the United States was prepared to make a deal with Iran when Tehran was ready to do so, adding, “The hand of friendship and cooperation (with Iran) is open.”

Speaking at the 12th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate, Khatibzadeh said Washington was sending Tehran contradictory messages about nuclear talks through third countries.

The two nations held five rounds of nuclear talks prior to a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, which Washington joined by striking key Iranian nuclear sites, read the report.

Repeating Tehran’s view, Khatibzadeh accused Washington of “betraying diplomacy” and the nuclear talks have stopped since the June war.

Major gaps remain between the two sides such as the issue of uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, which the United States wants to cut to zero to minimise any risk of weaponisation, a plan Tehran has rejected.

Last week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on key state matters, such as foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear programme, ruled out negotiations with the United States under threat, Reuters reported.

“Tehran is not seeking nuclear bombs and … is prepared to assure the world about it. We are very proud of our home-grown nuclear programme,” Khatibzadeh said.

A powerful car bomb exploded outside a district court in Pakistan’s capital on Tuesday, killing at least five people and injuring 13 others, state-run media reported.

According to Pakistan Television (PTV), most of the casualties were passersby or individuals arriving for court hearings. The blast also damaged several vehicles parked outside the court, which is normally crowded with visitors.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos following the explosion. Emergency teams, including police and paramedics, rushed to the site, transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. The force of the blast shattered windows and left debris scattered across the street.

Islamabad police have not yet issued a detailed statement but confirmed that investigations are ongoing. Authorities have cordoned off the area and deployed security personnel while forensic teams assess the scene.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident comes amid a period of heightened security concerns in the country, following a recent increase in militant activity in some regions.

Officials said a joint team from Islamabad Police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and intelligence agencies is investigating the blast to determine its cause and identify those responsible.