ISLAMABAD: At least 31 people were killed and more than 170 injured in a suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad on Friday, in the deadliest attack in Pakistan’s capital since the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing.
The explosion occurred at the Imam Bargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque on the outskirts of the city shortly after Friday prayers. Police said the death toll was expected to rise.
Security officials said the attacker was stopped at the entrance gate before detonating himself. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that the bomber had travelled to Afghanistan and accused India of sponsoring the attack, without presenting evidence.
In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the bombing and rejected Pakistan’s allegations as “baseless.” It said it was unfortunate that instead of addressing its internal challenges, Pakistan chose to blame others.
Eyewitness Accounts
Muhammad Kazim, a 52-year-old worshipper, said the blast struck as prayers were beginning. “During the first bow of namaz, we heard gunfire. While we were still bowing, a powerful explosion ripped through the building,” he said.
South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman said on X that the choice of target suggested the involvement of either a local affiliate of the Islamic State or anti-Shia militant groups.
Scenes at Hospitals and Site
Journalists at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences reported chaotic scenes, with injured victims, including children, being rushed in on stretchers and in private vehicles. Some arrived in the boots of cars, while relatives wept outside the heavily guarded emergency ward.
At the attack site, armed security personnel cordoned off the area. Pools of blood, scattered shoes, clothing and broken glass were visible around the mosque, with yellow crime scene tape marking the investigation zone. Unverified social media videos showed bodies lying near the front gate.
Security Context
The attack comes amid worsening security conditions in Pakistan, where forces are battling insurgencies in provinces bordering Afghanistan. Although Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country, Shias make up around 10–15 per cent of the population and have frequently been targeted by extremist groups.
Islamabad has accused militant organisations operating in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of using Afghan territory as safe havens. The Afghan Taliban government has repeatedly denied these claims. Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated sharply, with frequent clashes reported along the border.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the bombing as security has been tightened across the capital.
