Suicide bombing at Islamabad mosque kills 31, wounds over 160 amid rising Pakistani militant violence
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A suicide bomber struck a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad during Friday prayers, killing at least 31 people and wounding over 169 others, officials said. The attack, a rare occurrence in the Pakistani capital, underscores a surge in militant violence across the country as the government struggles to maintain security.
Television footage and social media images depicted scenes of chaos as police and residents rushed the wounded to nearby hospitals. Many of those injured were reported to be in critical condition. Witnesses described a harrowing scene inside the Khadija Al-Kubra mosque, with bodies and injured worshippers lying on the carpeted floor.
“I immediately thought that some big attack had happened,” said Hussain Shah, who was praying in the mosque courtyard when the explosion occurred. He recounted entering the mosque to find widespread panic, with the wounded screaming for help. “I counted around 30 bodies inside the mosque, while the number of the wounded appeared to be significantly higher.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion is likely to fall on groups such as the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP) or regional affiliates of the Islamic State group. These groups have previously targeted Shiite worshippers, a minority community in Pakistan, as well as security forces and civilians.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon confirmed the casualty figures. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif indicated preliminary findings suggest the bomber had recently crossed the border from Afghanistan. Asif stated the mosque’s security guards attempted to intercept the suspect, who then opened fire and detonated his explosives.
The attack prompted widespread condemnation. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement Friday condemning the attack, stating it violated the sanctity of religious rituals and targeted innocent people. The United States and the European Union also expressed their condolences and condemnation.
Pakistan has experienced a marked increase in militant activity in recent months, attributed to Baloch separatist groups and the TTP. The TTP, while separate from the Afghan Taliban, maintains close ties. A regional IS affiliate has also been active.
This attack comes less than a week after the Baloch Liberation Army carried out multiple attacks in Balochistan province, resulting in approximately 50 deaths. Pakistani security forces responded with operations that reportedly killed over 200 militants.
The incident occurred while Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was on an official visit to Islamabad, attending an event with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif several miles from the mosque.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Sharif issued separate statements expressing condolences to the victims’ families and pledging full medical assistance to the wounded. “Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity,” Zardari said. Sharif vowed to identify and punish those responsible.
The last major attack in Islamabad was the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel, which killed 63 people and injured over 250. A suicide bombing outside an Islamabad court in November claimed 12 lives.
The escalating violence raises concerns about Pakistan’s internal security situation and its ability to counter the growing threat of militancy, particularly given the complex geopolitical landscape in the region. The country faces a delicate balance in managing relations with Afghanistan, which it often accuses of harboring militants – allegations Kabul denies.
[Image of the scene from AP via NPR: https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6685×4456+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5c%2Fde%2F47db52914c4f8e334da87b28e4af%2Fap26037388994939.jpg]
[Image of security forces at the scene from AP via NPR: https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8202×5468+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F08%2Fb027f4bf4822816b4730b4ee03a1%2Fap26037389353334.jpg]
Reporting by The Associated Press.
