ISIS Claims Responsibility for Deadly Blast at Shia Mosque in Islamabad, 31 Killed
The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for a devastating suicide bomb attack at a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, that killed at least 31 people and injured 169 others, according to reports cited by the SITE Intelligence Group.
The explosion took place during Friday afternoon prayers at the Imam Bargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque in the Tarlai area on the outskirts of the city, when the mosque was crowded with worshippers.
According to Pakistani officials and eyewitness accounts, the suicide bomber was intercepted at the main entrance gate by volunteer security personnel. During an exchange of gunfire, the attacker detonated an explosive vest, causing massive casualties.
In a statement circulated through jihadist channels and monitored by SITE Intelligence Group, ISIS said the attacker detonated explosives “amidst the Shia congregation, inflicting a large number of deaths and injuries.”
Eyewitness Accounts
Worshippers inside the mosque described scenes of chaos and panic following the blast.
Muhammad Kazim, a 52-year-old worshipper, said prayers had just begun when the explosion occurred.
“During the first bow of the Namaz, we heard gunfire. While we were still bowing, a powerful explosion ripped through the mosque,” he told AFP.
Another witness, Imran Mahmood, said a gunfight broke out between the attacker, a possible accomplice, and volunteer guards before the bomber detonated the explosives.
Emergency Response
Hospitals across Islamabad were placed on high alert, with the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences receiving dozens of injured victims. AFP journalists at the hospital reported harrowing scenes, including children and adults being carried in on stretchers, with blood-soaked clothes and visible injuries. In some cases, victims were rushed to hospitals in private vehicles.
Security forces cordoned off the blast site as forensic teams began investigations. Pools of blood, scattered footwear, torn clothing, and broken glass were seen near the mosque entrance, while yellow crime-scene tape sealed off the area.
Condemnations and Reactions
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and vowed that those responsible would be identified and brought to justice.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar described the blast as a “heinous crime against humanity and a blatant violation of Islamic principles,” adding that Pakistan remains united against terrorism.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack, stating that assaults on civilians and places of worship are unacceptable under any circumstances.
Rising Security Concerns
The attack marks the deadliest incident in Islamabad since the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing, which killed 60 people. It comes amid rising insurgent violence across Pakistan, particularly in regions bordering Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Shia population, estimated at 10–15 percent, has repeatedly been targeted by extremist groups over the years. Authorities have blamed militant safe havens across the border in Afghanistan, claims repeatedly denied by the Taliban government.
Security analysts warn that the Islamabad blast underscores growing challenges for Pakistan’s internal security as militant violence intensifies across multiple regions.