Islamabad Mosque Bombing: IS Claims Responsibility for Deadly Attack – 31 Dead

ISLAMABAD – A suicide bombing at a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Islamabad on Friday, February 6, killed at least 31 people and wounded more than 169, marking the deadliest attack in Pakistan’s capital in over a decade. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a statement released on its Telegram channel.

The attack unfolded as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah compound on the outskirts of Islamabad. Officials stated that the assailant opened fire at the mosque gates before detonating an explosive vest. Images from the scene depicted a scene of devastation, with bodies lying amidst debris and shattered glass. Dozens of injured individuals were treated at the scene and transported to hospitals.

“I heard the gunshots and I was just trying to make sense of what had happened when there was a massive explosion,” said Sarfraz Shah, 46, who had accompanied his brother to the mosque. He recounted the chaos and bloodshed, stating he later learned his brother, Manzar, 39, was among those killed. “There was smoke. No one knew what had happened. Then there was blood everywhere.”

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated the bomber had a history of travel to Afghanistan. He also accused India of sponsoring the assault, though he did not provide supporting evidence. India’s foreign office swiftly condemned the attack and dismissed Pakistan’s accusation as “baseless,” stating that Pakistan should address its “home-grown ills” rather than blaming others.

A Pattern of Sectarian Violence

Shi’ites, a minority group in Pakistan’s predominantly Sunni Muslim population of 241 million, have historically been targeted in sectarian violence. Both Islamic State and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have been implicated in previous attacks against Shi’ite communities. The attack underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Pakistan, despite a decline in large-scale bombings in the capital in recent years.

The bombing occurred at a time of heightened security in Islamabad, as the city prepared to host the president of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Roads were blocked by checkpoints and security forces were deployed throughout the city. The attack raises questions about the effectiveness of security measures and the potential for further violence.

Islamabad’s Deputy Commissioner, Irfan Memon, confirmed the casualty figures in a statement, reporting 31 fatalities and 169 injuries. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital was overwhelmed with casualties, with family members anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.

Shahid Malik, a police official involved in the aftermath of the attack, described the scene as “horrible.” He estimated that between 600 and 700 people were present at the mosque during the attack.

Regional Implications and Recent Escalation

The attack comes amid a broader context of escalating violence in Pakistan. Just days prior, Pakistan blamed India for attacks in the restive Balochistan province, where separatist militants targeted government buildings, hospitals, and markets, resulting in 58 deaths. Pakistan’s military responded with offensives, claiming to have killed 216 militants. These accusations and counter-accusations have further strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, who experienced their worst conflict in decades in May.

the Pakistani military reported killing 24 militants linked to the TTP in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday. This suggests a continued struggle against militant groups operating along the border with Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Islamabad attack, but has repeatedly denied allegations that it provides safe haven to militants carrying out attacks in Pakistan. The issue of cross-border militancy remains a significant point of contention between the two countries.

The last major attack in Islamabad occurred on November 11, 2025, when a suicide bombing killed 12 people and wounded 27 others. Pakistan identified the attacker as an Afghan national, but no group claimed responsibility for that incident.

The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP), the regional branch of the Islamic State group, has been active in Afghanistan and Pakistan since its establishment in January 2015. According to web search results, ISKP has approximately 2,000 fighters in Afghanistan. The group has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in both countries, targeting Shi’ite Muslims and other groups.