Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 16, 2025, issued an official statement acknowledging international reports on the travel history of certain individuals linked to the recent Bondi Beach incident in Sydney and confirming their presence in Rawalpindi earlier this month.
According to the statement released from Islamabad, the Ministry confirmed that the individuals concerned were present in the Rawalpindi Cantonment area from December 1 to December 5, 2025.
The statement said the individuals were in Rawalpindi as part of a “Non-State Actor Cultural Exchange Program”. It added that their visa applications had been processed under the “Special Guests of the Establishment” category.
🔥Official statement by Pakistan Govt.
Bondi Beach Terrorist, attackers Visited Pakistan in First week of Dec 2025
This is the truth😎 pic.twitter.com/rE9VQARxga
— Lt Colonel Vikas Gurjar 🇮🇳 (@Ltcolonelvikas) December 16, 2025
Meanwhile, Telangana Police in India, have reportedly issued a press note in connection with the mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney, clarifying details about the accused and their links to India. The clarification follows widespread reporting after the incident was treated as a terrorist attack by Australian authorities.
A mass shooting took place at Bondi Beach, Sydney, on Sunday, December 14, 2025, during a public Hanukkah celebration. The incident reportedly resulted in the deaths of 15 victims and one of the two attackers. The attackers were identified as Sajid Akram, aged 50, and his son Naveed Akram, aged 24.
The press note stated that reports indicate the attackers were inspired by ISIS ideology and that further investigation in this regard is being carried out by Australian authorities.
The note said that Sajid Akram was originally from Hyderabad, India, where he completed his B.Com degree before migrating to Australia in search of employment approximately 27 years ago, in November 1998. It stated that he subsequently married Ms Veera Grosso, a woman of European origin, and settled permanently in Australia. The couple have two children — a son, Naveed Akram, who was one of the attackers, and a daughter.
It added that Sajid Akram carries an Indian passport, while his son Naveed Akram and daughter were born in Australia and are Australian citizens.
As per information available from his relatives in India, the press note said that Sajid Akram had limited contact with his family in Hyderabad over the past 27 years. It stated that he visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia, primarily for family-related reasons such as property matters and visits to his elderly parents. It was also mentioned that he did not travel to India even at the time of his father’s demise.
The press note further stated that family members had expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities, nor of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation. It added that the factors that led to Sajid Akram’s radicalisation during his stay in Australia remain under probe.
The Telangana Police said there was no adverse record against Sajid Akram during his stay in India prior to his departure in 1998.
