Islamabad, Pakistan. An attacker opened fire at the gates of a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Islamabad on Friday before detonating a suicide bomb, killing at least 31 people. More than 170 others were wounded, officials said.
Attack at Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah compound
Officials said the explosion occurred after guards challenged the attacker as he made his way into the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah compound on the outskirts of the city.
Scenes from the site
Images from the site showed bloodied bodies on the carpeted mosque floor surrounded by shards of glass and debris, with panicked worshippers nearby. Dozens of wounded were also seen lying in the compound’s gardens as people called for help.
Official statement and allegations
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote on X that the man blew himself up in “the last row of worshippers.” Asif said the bomber had a history of travelling to Afghanistan and blamed neighbouring India for sponsoring the assault, without providing evidence. There was no immediate response from New Delhi, which has dismissed Pakistan’s accusations of backing militants in the past.
Assessment and broader context
The attack was the deadliest suicide bombing in Islamabad in more than a decade, according to conflict monitor ACLED, which said it “bears the hallmarks of the Islamic State.” Shi’ites, a minority in the predominantly Sunni Muslim nation of 241 million, have been targeted in sectarian violence in the past, including by Islamic State and the Sunni Islamist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Security situation and regional reactions
Bombings are rare in the heavily guarded capital, although Pakistan has faced a rising wave of militancy in recent years, particularly along the border with Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, and Kabul has repeatedly denied charges that it provides safe haven to militants carrying out attacks in Pakistan.
What impact do you think this attack will have on security measures in Islamabad?
