At least 31 people were killed and another 169 injured in a suicide bombing at an imambargah during Friday prayers in Islamabad, according to authorities.
The explosion occurred at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in the Tarlai area of the federal capital.
Images from the site showed bloodied bodies lying on the carpeted floor surrounded by shards of glass, debris, and panicked worshippers.
Dozens more wounded were lying in the garden outside the imambargah as people called for help.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested India’s and Afghanistan’s involvement in the attack, stating in a post on social media platform X that “it has been proved that the terrorist involved in the attack travelled to and from Afghanistan”.
“The collusion between India and Afghanistan is being revealed,” he said.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry later told the media in Islamabad that while the attacker was not an Afghan, authorities had been able to determine through forensic tests the number of times he had travelled to Afghanistan.
Regarding the attacker, he said: “Information has been obtained about the terrorist who carried out the suicide attack. He is not an Afghan national, but we have information about the number of times he travelled to Afghanistan after the forensics of his remains.”
The state minister also said that a first cousin of the Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi had died in the blast.
He said that Pakistan had shared evidence with the rest of the world, including its neighbouring countries, that terrorism in Pakistan was sponsored by India.
“We have proof that India has tripled its investment into this. They (terrorists) are not carrying out attacks for religion, but for dollars … Whether they belong to the BLA, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan or any other group, they are paid in dollars,” he added.
The minister further stated that Islamabad had repeatedly urged Afghanistan not to provide space to terrorists and not to become India’s proxy.
“These proxies will meet the same fate as India did in May [last year],” he added.
Speaking about the attack, he said “everything is being monitored at the highest level … But a lot of information cannot be shared at this point because it is important to reach those who were behind them (attacker). And within 72 hours, we will share a detailed report, including information about their handlers.”
When asked whether the incident was also not a failure of the authorities and the state in protecting the public, Chaudhry replied: “This is not a failure … We are a frontline state that is protecting the world. And they are attacking us as they just want to weaken the wall that is Pakistan. If this wall weakens, this fire is not going to stop at our border … We are a responsible state and we are going to fulfil our responsibility. We are going to win this war, and we are winning this war.”
The attack comes as Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is currently visiting Pakistan.
Condemnations pour in
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari extended condolences to the victims who lost their lives in the blast, according to a statement issued by the PPP on X.
He expressed grief over the incident, saying, “Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the blast, according to a statement. He expressed grief over the deaths in the blast and expressed sympathy with the bereaved.
In a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the prime minister directed him to complete the investigation of the incident and immediately identify the people responsible for it.
Condemnations poured in from a number of countries after the attack.
The United States strongly condemned the terrorist attack that left innocent worshippers dead and injured, saying all acts of terror and violence are unacceptable, US Embassy in Islamabad said in a statement.
US Charge d’Affaires Natalie A Baker expressed sincere condolences to those wounded and to the families of those killed in the bombing.
UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott said she is “outraged and heartbroken” by the horrific attack at the imambargah in Islamabad during Friday prayer. She extends her thoughts and prayers to those killed and injured and to their families.
The British envoy termed such violence abhorrent and expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan in the wake of the tragedy.
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and injuries caused by the explosion at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra.
It extended heartfelt condolences to the victims and conveyed sincere sympathies to their families, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The embassy emphasised China’s solidarity with Pakistan, stating that it stands firmly with its Pakistani brothers and sisters during this difficult time.
Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Islamabad, describing it as a hideous act that led to the martyrdom and injury of dozens of innocent civilians.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye said it condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack carried out at a mosque during the Friday prayers in Islamabad.
Ankara extended condolences to the families of those killed and to the people of Pakistan. It expressed solidarity with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.
European Union’s Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis expressed deep shock over the suicide attack in Islamabad, describing it as a heinous act. He said that the EU strongly condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism.
Karoblis extended condolences to the families of the victims and the injured, emphasising solidarity with the people of Pakistan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan also strongly condemned the suicide bombing in at the mosque in Islamabad during Friday prayers, which resulted in the death and injury of numerous worshippers.
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesperson of Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, said that Kabul condemned such attacks that violate the sanctity of sacred rituals and mosques and target worshippers and innocent people.