A significant explosion devastated a Shia mosque on the outskirts of Pakistan’s capital during Friday prayers, resulting in the deaths of 31 individuals and causing injuries to at least 169 others, as confirmed by the police. The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the incident in a statement released on Telegram.
Authorities in Islamabad categorized the explosion at the expansive mosque as an attack and initiated an investigation into the matter. Reports from rescuers and witnesses highlighted the critical condition of some of the wounded individuals. Television footage and social media posts depicted scenes of police and locals transporting the injured to nearby medical facilities.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Moshin Naqvi, announced on Saturday that four individuals suspected of aiding the suicide bomber had been apprehended. Naqvi revealed during a news conference that the arrests, including that of the alleged mastermind, were made following operations in Peshawar and Nowshera.
Eyewitnesses recalled a distressing scene at the site, with bodies and wounded individuals strewn across the mosque’s carpeted floor. Hussain Shah, who was present in the mosque courtyard during the incident, described hearing a sudden, deafening blast, which led him to discover a chaotic situation inside, with many injured individuals desperately seeking assistance.
Afghanistan strongly denounced the attack, emphasizing its condemnation of such assaults on religious practices and worshippers. The surge in militant violence in Pakistan in recent months has been attributed mainly to Baloch separatist factions, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and a regional branch of the Islamic State group.
Preliminary findings indicated that the suicide bomber had traveled to and from Afghanistan, with mosque security guards attempting to intercept the assailant before the detonation occurred. The guards’ condition following the incident remained uncertain. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing condemnation for the attack, a sentiment echoed by the international community, including the United States and the European Union.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the assault, offering condolences to the victims’ families and ensuring comprehensive medical support for the injured. Zardari labeled the targeting of innocent civilians as a crime against humanity, emphasizing solidarity with those affected.
Sharif vowed a thorough investigation to identify and punish the perpetrators, a sentiment echoed by Naqvi, who stressed the importance of providing top-notch medical care to the wounded. The attack coincided with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit, with an event he attended alongside Sharif taking place several kilometers away from the explosion site.
The recent attack follows previous deadly incidents in Islamabad, including a 2008 suicide bombing at the Marriott Hotel and a November bombing outside a court. Additionally, a week prior to this attack, the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army carried out multiple assaults in Balochistan, resulting in significant casualties, with security forces subsequently neutralizing over 200 militants in response.
