Blast reported in imambargah in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:

At least 31 worshippers were killed and dozens more injured when a massive bomb tore through an imambargah in the Tarlai area of Islamabad on Friday, police and administration officials confirmed, adding that the bomber had “travelled to Afghanistan”.

The explosion went off just as worshippers were offering Friday prayers at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra on the outskirts of Islamabad. The blast was so powerful that it was heard within a radius of hundreds of metres, whipping up fear and panic among residents.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon confirmed that at least 31 people have been killed and 169 others injured – some of them critically.

Preliminary reports indicate a possible suicide bombing, with two unnamed police officials telling Reuters that the attacker was stopped at the gate of the imambargah before detonating the bomb. Administration officials, however, said it was too early to speculate on the nature of the blast.

A statement issued by state broadcaster PTV News on X quoted government sources as saying that the suicide bomber had been identified.

“According to confirmed information, the suicide bomber received training for terrorist operations from Afghanistan. The suicide bomber has travelled to Afghanistan multiple times and arrived from Afghanistan some time ago. Various terrorist groups present in Afghanistan pose a threat to the security of the entire region under the patronage of the Taliban regime. Behind every terrorist operation in Pakistan is a nexus between Afghanistan and India.”

Similar links were raised by federal ministers who blamed India and Afghanistan for the attack.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry and Islamabad Inspector General of Police visited the imambargah in Tarlai Kalan, where they offered prayers alongside local residents.

The prayers were led by the same cleric who had been leading worship at the time of the attack. A large number of residents from the area participated in the congregation, with many seen visibly emotional.

Following the prayers, grief-stricken residents raised slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad”, reflecting a strong display of national unity. Addressing the media, Naqvi said the attack was not directed at any school of thought but was rather an assault on Pakistan’s unity and humanity.

He said the objective of terrorists was to spread fear and division, adding that Pakistan’s response would be unity and the enforcement of the writ of the state. “Mosques and places of worship were sacred and that attacks on peace were unacceptable”, he added.

Appealing to the public, the interior minister urged citizens to avoid rumours and act responsibly. He said security had been placed on high alert and that those responsible would be brought to justice at the earliest.

Naqvi said the government stood with the families of the martyrs and that the best possible medical treatment was being ensured for the injured. He added that necessary measures were being taken to maintain law and order.

Addressing the media later, Talal also said the assailant was identified, adding that although he was not Afghan, he had “travelled to Afghanistan”. “He is not an Afghan citizen, but the information about how many times he travelled to Afghanistan has reached us after forensic examination of the rest of his body,” he said.

He said the incident came to the notice of the Islamabad administration at 1:42pm. He said rescue teams reached the site within 10 to 12 minutes and an emergency was imposed at hospitals across the capital.

Talal added that all administrative heads, including the Islamabad inspector general and the deputy commissioner, were present at the scene on the prime minister’s instructions, while he himself remained at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Referring to the terrorism taking place in different parts of the country, Talal said there was a similar pattern in all such incidents: on one side, terrorism was being carried out in the name of religion by individuals, while on the other side there was “BLA terrorism based on ethnicity and provincialism”.

“What they planned a week ago — that they would carry out a surprise in Balochistan — ended up being a heavy surprise for them instead, and their losses were far greater than they had imagined,” he said.

Calling the terrorists cowards, Talal said they were attacking soft targets, including markets, schools, mosques, imambargahs, banks and other facilities meant for ordinary people, adding that such targets were deliberately chosen.

He said that among the 31 martyrs in Friday’s attack was also a cousin of the Islamabad police chief. “All of them are our brothers. Regardless of sect, they are all Pakistanis. Whether it is terrorism in Balochistan, terrorism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, or in Islamabad, our resolve and determination against it is the same.”

Talal said implementation of the National Action Plan was ongoing without leniency or doubt, adding: “This is a war we are fighting to win, and we are winning it. That is why they target soft targets instead of hard ones.”

The minister further said that “no Muslim can commit such an act. Whether terrorism is carried out in the name of Islam, or on the basis of language or provincialism — whether it is done with a beard or without one in the form of the BLA — there is no doubt that it is terrorism.”

Holding India responsible for the attack, he said Pakistan had shared substantial evidence with neighbouring countries and the international community proving that the terrorism was sponsored by India.

“We have evidence that India has tripled its investment. Those carrying out bombings here are not doing it in the name of Allah, but for dollars. The more people they kill and the more martyrs there are, the more money they receive. Whether they belong to the BLA, TTP or other groups, they are paid salaries in dollars,” he added.

He also criticised Afghanistan, saying Pakistan had repeatedly tried to remind it of its responsibilities as a neighbouring country. “We have told Afghanistan that we have extended many favours to them. Do not repay these favours by nurturing terrorists or by becoming a proxy for India,” Talal said.

Referring to last year’s conflict with India in May, he warned that “what happened with India will also happen with these proxies.”

He said that further details could not be shared at this stage due to the ongoing investigation. “Within 72 hours, a detailed report identifying all handlers and those involved will be submitted to the interior ministry on the orders of the prime minister,” he said.

Responding to a question, he said the attack should not be seen as a failure but as a backlash. “Pakistan is a frontline state and is protecting the world. They are attacking us to weaken this wall — and this wall is Pakistan. If this wall weakens, the fire will not stop at our borders. This is our responsibility, and we are fulfilling it as a responsible state,” he said.

Videos circulating on social media and WhatsApp showed several worshippers dead or injured, lying in pools of blood inside the imambargah, as debris and shattered glass littered the carpeted floor. Some casualties could also be seen on the lawns and survivors could be seen calling for help.

Police, Rescue 1122, fire brigade and other emergency teams reached the site shortly after the incident and launched rescue and relief operations. The casualties were driven to different hospitals of the capital, including the PIMS, Polyclinic, and Capital Development Authority hospitals, where a state of emergency has been declared.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing, but similar attacks in the past had been carried out by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Some police sources blamed the “Fitna al-Khawarij”, a blanket term Pakistani officials use for the TTP and its allies.

The blast site has been completely sealed to allow the Bomb Disposal Squad and forensic teams to collect evidence, while Islamabad Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi has placed the federal capital on high alert.

Security forces, including police and rescue teams, have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, with additional personnel stationed at sensitive locations and city entry points.

Authorities are investigating the cause and nature of the explosion and have issued a public appeal to avoid spreading rumors and to cooperate fully with law enforcement as the situation remains under close monitoring.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal issued urgent directives with an emergency declared in all federal government hospitals.

According to a statement from the health ministry spokesperson, he said that the availability of medicines, medical equipment, and other essential arrangements was being ensured at all costs.

It further stated that leaves for doctors, nurses and paramedical staff were cancelled to ensure timely and quality medical facilities for the injured. The statement added that emergency services at all federal hospitals were fully operational.

Kamal emphasised that the government was utilising all resources for the treatment of the victims, adding that no negligence would be tolerated as he was personally monitoring the situation. He condemned the suicide blast as a tragic event, labelling those targeting innocent citizens as enemies of humanity.

A spokesperson for PIMS said the emergency was declared on the instructions of the hospital’s executive director.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry visited Federal Government Polyclinic and said that it was a “very tragic incident and an extremely cowardly act” by the terrorists to attack in this manner.

“They are the enemies of Islam, the enemies of Pakistan. We will end terrorism from our country, we will continue this fight till every one of these people are brought to justice. We want peace in the region but our neighbors, especially India, has been very active in terror activities in Pakistan. They are involved in the recent attacks in Balochistan, FATA and now in Islamabad,” he said while talking to the media.

The minister said hospitals were instructed to administer proper care to the injured. “We are trying to provide all the services we can to the injured and stand with the families of the fallen,” he added.

Similarly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif blamed Afghanistan and India for the incident.

“Those who martyr worshippers in the mosque are enemies of both religion and the homeland. The terrorist involved in the attack has been proven to have been coming and going from Afghanistan. The threads of the alliance between India and the Taliban are being uncovered. The security guards challenged him, in response to which he opened fire and blew himself up in the last row of worshippers with an explosion.

“The state will respond to this oppression with full force. After a humiliating defeat, India is now fighting through its proxies. Alhamdulillah, it no longer has the courage for direct war.”

The Islamabad blast comes in the wake of a spate of recent attacks across Pakistan, including multiple deadly incidents in Balochistan targeting security forces and civilians.

The Inter-Services Public Relations said a day ago that security forces had successfully concluded “Operation Raddul-Fitna-1” in Balochistan, killing 216 terrorists in a series of coordinated, intelligence-based operations (IBOs) targeting what the military described as Indian-sponsored terrorist elements,

In November, an attack on the District Judicial Complex in G-11 area of Islamabad killed at least 12 people and injured more than 36 others. In that attack, a suicide attacker attempted to enter court premises but detonated explosives near a police vehicle after being intercepted, causing widespread panic and damage to vehicles nearby.

The attack also comes amid the visit of the Uzbek president to Pakistan for a two-day stay. Earlier this week, the Kazakh president also visited the country.

Security tightened in Rawalpindi

A statement from the Rawalpindi police spokesperson said the force had placed the city on high alert following the explosion.

According to the statement, security was significantly tightened at mosques and imambargahs across the city, with authorities ordering the immediate removal of all encroachments outside religious sites to ensure clear surroundings and minimise risks.

It added that police established strict blockades at all entry and exit points of the city, while additional personnel were deployed to protect the places of worship of the Christian community in Rawalpindi Cantt.

Rawalpindi City Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani directed all superintendents and sub-divisional police officers to remain in sensitive areas to personally oversee security arrangements.

Furthermore, it said Rescue 1122 and Civil Defence were put on high alert to respond to any potential emergency, while the Safe City Control Room had begun round-the-clock monitoring of the city.

The statement added that the police urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the Rescue 15 helpline immediately. A later statement said that police in the surrounding areas were also put on high alert to ensure security.

Hamdani has instructed senior police officials to personally monitor security duties with extra personnel deployed around entry and exit points, as well as at key installations and buildings.

Elite and Dolphin Force formations were ordered to maintain continuous patrolling with Hamdani directing that strict monitoring of suspicious individuals and vehicles be conducted. He further mandated that police personnel wear bulletproof jackets and kits during snap checking on highways.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that 25 fully equipped emergency ambulances were dispatched to Islamabad for the victims. She said all hospitals across Rawalpindi district were placed on high alert, with surgical teams, orthopedic and neurosurgical specialists on standby.

“Blood banks are fully staffed, and operation theatres are fully equipped to ensure prompt and effective medical care for the injured. Pindi commissioner and deputy commissioner have been directed to extend every possible assistance.”

Condemnations pour in

President Asif Ali Zardari expresseed deep grief over the blast in the federal capital and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.

He have instructions to provide all possible medical facilities to the injured.

“Targeting innocent citizens is a crime against humanity. The nation stands with the affected families in this hour of difficulty,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after a briefing with the interior minister, ordered an immediate and thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice, asserting that the government would not permit “mischief and unrest” to take root in the country.

He further directed Kamal to personally oversee the medical care for the injured, ensuring they receive the best possible facilities.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said targeting places of worship and civilians was a heinous crime against humanity and a blatant violation of Islamic principles.

“Pakistan stands united against terrorism in all its forms. This barbarity will not intimidate us and extremists will be brought to full account.”