The Islamic State (ISIS), the global Sunni jihadist terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for Friday's suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. The attack killed at least 31 people and injured 169 during prayers—making it the deadliest in the city since 2008. ISIS shared its claim overnight on Telegram, including a photo said to show the attacker with a gun. It points to ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan Province), its Afghanistan-Pakistan branch, as the perpetrator. The bomber struck the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Tarlai Kalan. Guards stopped him at the entranc

The Islamic State (ISIS), the global Sunni jihadist terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for Friday's suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. The attack killed at least 31 people and injured 169 during prayers—making it the deadliest in the city since 2008.

ISIS shared its claim overnight on Telegram, including a photo said to show the attacker with a gun. It points to ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan Province), its Afghanistan-Pakistan branch, as the perpetrator.

The bomber struck the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Tarlai Kalan. Guards stopped him at the entrance; he shot at them before detonating explosives amid worshippers. The blast ripped through the building, leaving shattered glass, debris, and bodies.

On Saturday, over 2,000 mourners gathered at the same mosque under heavy security for emotional funerals. Coffins arrived as government officials and Shiite leaders joined grieving families.

Pakistani forces arrested suspects overnight, including the bomber's relatives (brother, mother, others). Raids killed one officer. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said early evidence links the attacker to travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan—prompting fresh accusations that Kabul harbors militants (denied by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers, who condemned the attack).

Pakistan faces rising militant violence. Last week, the Baloch Liberation Army killed ~50 in Balochistan; the military claims to have killed over 200 "terrorists" in response.

ISIS-K has repeatedly targeted Pakistan's Shiite community, including a 2017 shrine bombing that killed over 90.

Victim of bomb explosion in a Shiite mosque, from at a hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan

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