Islamabad, February 6, 2026 : At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured after a suicide bomber detonated himself at a Shia mosque during Friday prayers in Pakistan’s capital, officials said.
The powerful blast occurred at the Khadijatul Kubra mosque-cum-imambargah in the Tarlai area of Islamabad. According to police, the attacker was intercepted at the gate of the imambargah but detonated the explosive device before entering the premises.
A district administration spokesperson confirmed the casualty figures in a post on X. Earlier, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said more than 80 people were injured initially, while at least 15 bodies were shifted to hospitals in the immediate aftermath.
No group has claimed responsibility so far. However, police sources said preliminary investigations suggest the attacker was a foreign national with links to Fitna al Khwaraji, a term used by authorities for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Police and Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations. Army troops and Rangers cordoned off the area, while search and security operations are underway in and around the blast site. An emergency was declared in hospitals across the capital to handle the influx of injured victims.
The attack comes less than three months after a suicide bombing outside a district and sessions court in Islamabad killed 12 people. It also coincided with the visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who arrived in Pakistan on a two-day state visit on Thursday.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas strongly condemned the attack.
“Targeting innocent civilians is a crime against humanity,” President Zardari said.
Abbas termed the attack on a place of worship “a direct assault on humanity, religion and social values,” saying it could not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital and met the injured. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also condemned the “cowardly act,” stressing unity for peace, tolerance and stability, and solidarity with law enforcement agencies.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact nature and planning of the attack.
