In a tragic span of just 24 hours, devastating explosions rocked the capital cities of India and Pakistan, resulting in the loss of at least 20 lives. These incidents have cast a shadow over both nations, highlighting ongoing security challenges.

In New Delhi, India, the serenity of the historic Red Fort area was shattered on Monday evening when a car exploded at a traffic signal. The blast claimed eight lives and left 20 others injured, as reported by local police. Occurring near a metro station in the bustling old quarter of the city, the explosion damaged nearby vehicles and left the car’s occupants presumed dead, according to Reuters.

Investigators, working under India’s anti-terrorism law, have begun a thorough examination of the blast site. Forensic experts meticulously sifted through the wreckage, seeking clues, while security measures were bolstered across multiple states to prevent further tragedy.

Meanwhile, across the border in Islamabad, Pakistan, a suicide bomber struck outside a district court, killing at least 12 individuals and injuring 27 more. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi disclosed that the perpetrator attempted to infiltrate the courthouse but instead detonated the explosives near a police vehicle. The Tehreek-e-Taliban has since claimed responsibility for this heinous act, according to The Guardian.

These twin attacks have left both nations reeling and underscore the persistent threat of terrorism in the region. As both countries grapple with the aftermath, global attention is focused on their response to these tragic events.

Firefighters douse a car at the suicide blast site in Islamabad on Nov. 11, 2025. A suicide bombing outside district court buildings in a residential area of the Pakistani capital killed 12 people and wounded 27 on Nov. 11, the interior minister said.  (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier that day, another suicide attack killed three people, and militants stormed a military school in the country’s northwest. No group has claimed responsibility for either attack.

The twin bombings come just months after the May 2025 ceasefire between India and Pakistan that the Trump administration helped broker. On May 10, President Donald Trump announced both sides had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire” following the heaviest cross-border fighting in decades.

Security forces take measures at the scene where at least 12 people were killed, and several others injured in an explosion outside a court complex in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Nov. 11, 2025. The blast occurred in the parking area of the Judicial Complex. Security sources told Anadolu that the bodies of 12 victims have been taken to a local hospital, and 21 others were transferred for emergency treatment.  (Muhammed Semih Ugurlu/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Pakistan publicly thanked the U.S. for its involvement, while Indian officials disputed Trump’s assertion that trade discussions played a role in reaching the agreement.

Security officials near destroyed vehicles at the site of an explosion in New Delhi, India, on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. At least eight people died and several were injured in an explosion near the historic Red Fort in India’s capital New Delhi, one of the most crowded areas in the city.  (Prakash Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The ceasefire followed weeks of escalating clashes that brought the two countries to the brink of a wider conflict. Although the violence largely subsided after the deal, the arrangement has remained fragile. Indian officials have continued to lodge complaints over alleged violations along the border, according to Reuters.

Reuters contributed to this story.