Islamabad witnessed a day of profound mourning on Saturday as funerals commenced for victims of a devastating suicide bombing that struck during Friday prayers. The assault on Imam Bargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque, located on the capital’s outskirts, resulted in at least 31 fatalities and left 169 individuals wounded, with authorities cautioning that the death toll may further escalate.
Eyewitness accounts depict a scene of chaos and horror. According to security sources, the attacker was intercepted at the mosque entrance before detonating explosives. Muhammad Kazim, a 52-year-old worshipper, described an ‘extremely powerful’ explosion that reverberated through the building as prayers commenced. Another attendee, Imran Mahmood, reported an exchange of gunfire between the assailant and volunteer security personnel prior to the detonation.
The aftermath revealed a tragic spectacle of devastation. AFP journalists documented bloodied clothing, debris, and emotional scenes at local hospitals where victims, including children, were urgently transported. Social media footage, though unverified, showed multiple bodies near the mosque’s entrance and a prayer hall carpeted in red now stained with tragedy.
Pakistan’s leadership swiftly condemned the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged to pursue and prosecute those responsible, while Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar denounced the bombing as ‘a heinous crime against humanity and a blatant violation of Islamic principles.’ International condemnation followed, with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issuing a strong rebuke through a spokesperson.
This incident marks the deadliest attack in Islamabad since September 2008, when a truck bomb devastated the Marriott Hotel, claiming 60 lives. It occurs amidst escalating security challenges for Pakistan, where intensifying insurgencies in southern and northern border provinces with Afghanistan have strained military resources. Just last week, separatist insurgents in Balochistan killed 58 security personnel and civilians, triggering extensive counter-operations that neutralized nearly 200 militants.