31 Killed in Blast at Mosque in Pakistan's Islamabad, 4 Arrested
At least 31 people were killed and 169 injured in a suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad, with ISIS claiming responsibility and tensions rising in the region.
On 6 February 2026, a suicide bombing took place at a Shia mosque in Islamabad, killing at least 31 people and injuring 169 others. The blast happened at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in the Tarlai Kalan area during evening prayers. The attack has once again raised serious concerns about rising terror incidents in Pakistan.
Soon after the blast, ISIS (Islamic State) claimed responsibility through a message on its Telegram channel. According to Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, security guards at the mosque tried to stop the suicide bomber. However, the attacker opened fire at them before detonating the bomb among the worshippers.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep grief over the loss of innocent lives. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that a search operation was immediately launched to arrest those involved. So far, four people have been taken into custody, including one Afghan citizen.
Attacks on religious minorities are not new in Pakistan, and the number of terror incidents has been increasing in recent years. Official data shows that 136 civilians were killed in terror attacks in 2019. This number rose sharply to 790 in 2024 and further increased to 1,077 in 2025. These figures highlight the growing security challenges faced by common citizens.
After the attack, Pakistan once again blamed India and Afghanistan. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it was unfortunate that Pakistan was blaming other countries instead of addressing its own internal issues.
At present, apart from ISIS claiming responsibility, there is no independent proof about who planned the attack. Some political leaders and experts have also discussed other possibilities. In 2025, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had claimed in an interview that Pakistan was planning to attack Afghanistan on the instructions of the United States, allegedly in exchange for financial and strategic support. However, there is no verified evidence to confirm this claim.
Pakistan and Afghanistan already share tense relations, and both countries often blame each other during such incidents. The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities are trying to find out the full truth behind the deadly attack.
