ISIS blamed for Islamabad mosque suicide assault as at the least 40 useless and 170 injured
A suicide bomber has targeted a Shiite mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad during Friday prayers, killing 31 people and wounding at least 169 others – fingers are pointed at ISIS
Pakistani security officials examine the site of of a bomb explosion at a Shiite mosque, in Islamabad, Pakistan
A suicide bomber has struck a Shiite mosque on Islamabad’s outskirts during Friday prayers, claiming 31 lives and injuring at least 169 others. Television coverage and social media footage captured police and locals rushing the wounded to nearby hospitals.
Some victims from the attack on the expansive Khadija Al-Kubra mosque were said to be fighting for their lives. Emergency responders and eyewitnesses painted a horrific picture, with casualties scattered across the mosque’s carpeted interior.
Hussain Shah revealed he was worshipping in the mosque courtyard when a deafening blast erupted. “I immediately thought that some big attack had happened,” he said.
Upon entering the mosque, he encountered complete pandemonium – numerous injured victims were shrieking and pleading for assistance.
Fingers are expected to point towards extremists such as the Pakistani Taliban or the so-called Islamic State group, previously blamed for assaults on Shiite believers, who represent a minority within the nation. Extremist factions throughout Pakistan regularly target both security personnel and ordinary citizens.
Although such incidents are relatively rare in Islamabad, Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in militant brutality over recent months, predominantly attributed to Baloch separatist organisations and the Pakistani Taliban, dubbed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which operates independently but maintains ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban.
A local branch of the Islamic State group has also been operating within the country. Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif posted on X that initial investigations indicate the suicide bomber had been travelling back and forth to Afghanistan.
He explained that the mosque’s security personnel attempted to stop the suspect, who fired upon them before detonating his explosives amongst the congregation.
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry condemned the mosque attack in Islamabad and accused the Pakistani defence minister of “irresponsibly” connecting the incident to Afghanistan.
Pakistan frequently alleges that Afghanistan, where the Taliban regained control in August 2021 during the withdrawal of American and NATO forces following a two-decade conflict, provides sanctuary to militants and Pakistani Taliban members. Kabul rejects these claims.
On Friday, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement declaring that the “Islamic Republic of Afghanistan condemns such attacks that violate the sanctity of sacred rituals and mosques and target worshippers and innocent people”.
The assault also prompted widespread condemnation from the global community, including the United States and European Union. Messages of sympathy and denunciation flooded in from numerous embassies based in Islamabad.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the attack and offered their sympathies to the bereaved families. They ordered that comprehensive medical care be given to all those injured.
“Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity,” declared Mr Zardari, adding, “The nation stands with the affected families in this difficult time.”
Mr Sharif announced that he has ordered a comprehensive investigation, stating, “Those who are responsible must be identified and punished”.
The attack on Friday took place while Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on an official two-day visit, was attending an event with Mr Sharif. The event in Islamabad was several miles distant from the explosion site.
The capital’s previous deadliest attack occurred in 2008 when a suicide bomber targeted the Marriott Hotel, resulting in 63 deaths and over 250 injuries. In November, a suicide bomber struck outside a court in Islamabad, claiming 12 lives.
This latest assault comes nearly a week after the banned Baloch Liberation Army launched multiple attacks in the insurgency-ridden south-western province of Balochistan, causing around 50 fatalities.
In response to these attacks, security forces reportedly killed more than 200 “terrorists”, as per military sources.
