Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Deadly Mosque Bombing in Pakistan's Capital
The Islamic State terror group has officially claimed responsibility for a devastating suicide bombing at a Shi'ite Muslim mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital city. The announcement came through the group's Telegram channel following the horrific attack that unfolded during Friday prayers.
Casualties and Immediate Aftermath
According to police and government officials, the suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and wounded nearly 170 others in the attack. The explosion occurred at a time when mosques across Pakistan are typically packed with worshippers for Friday prayers, maximizing the potential for casualties.
Disturbing images from the scene showed bloodied bodies lying on the carpeted mosque floor surrounded by shattered glass, debris, and panicked worshippers. Dozens more wounded victims were seen lying in the garden outside the mosque as people desperately called for help.
Emergency Response and Hospital Scenes
Emergency services scrambled to the scene, with television footage and social media images showing officers and residents carrying bloodied victims to nearby hospitals. Ambulances rushed to the location as the scale of the tragedy became apparent.
At the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital, journalists witnessed several adults and children being carried in on stretchers or by their arms and legs. Medics and bystanders worked together to unload injured people from ambulances and private vehicles, with at least one casualty arriving in the boot of a car.
Friends and relatives of the wounded shouted in distress as they arrived at the hospital's heavily guarded emergency ward. Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon confirmed the rising death toll, stating that 31 people had lost their lives and 169 were wounded, with some listed in critical condition.
Diplomatic Tensions and Accusations
The ISIS claim of responsibility comes amid diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and India. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of using 'proxies' against Pakistan in a post on X, though he provided no evidence to support this allegation. He suggested that 'the threads of the alliance between India and the Taliban are being uncovered.'
India's foreign ministry swiftly denied any involvement in the bomb attack. In a statement on X, the ministry called the attack 'condemnable' and expressed condolences for the loss of life. The statement added: 'It is unfortunate that, instead of seriously addressing the problems plaguing its social fabric, Pakistan should choose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills. India rejects any and every such allegation, which is as baseless as it is pointless.'
Security Details and Investigation
Two police officials revealed that the attacker was stopped at the gate of the mosque before detonating the bomb. Islamabad police confirmed that an investigation into the attack is currently underway.
Bombings are relatively rare in the heavily-guarded capital, although Pakistan has experienced a rising wave of militancy in recent years. Militant groups have repeatedly targeted both security forces and civilians across the country.
Political Responses and Condemnations
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong condemnation of the attack, expressing 'deep grief' over the tragedy. President Asif Ali Zardari extended condolences to the victims' families, stating that 'targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity.' He directed authorities to provide all possible medical facilities to the injured.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and urged authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the wounded, who were being taken to hospitals across the capital.
Broader Security Context
The latest attack occurs in a context of increasing militant violence in Pakistan. In November, a suicide bomber struck outside a court in Islamabad, killing 12 people. Just last week, the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army carried out multiple attacks in the insurgency-hit southwestern Balochistan province, killing about 50 people. Security forces responding to those attacks reportedly killed more than 200 'terrorists,' according to military statements.
While no group immediately claimed responsibility following the mosque attack, suspicion naturally fell on militant outfits such as the Pakistani Taliban or Islamic State, both of which have been blamed for previous attacks targeting Shiite worshippers, who represent a minority in Pakistan.
