A suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, killed 31 people and wounded 169 others during Friday prayers on Friday, February 6, 2026, marking one of the deadliest attacks to strike the nation’s capital in recent years.

The explosion tore through the Khadija Al-Kubra mosque in the Tarlai Kalan area of the Tarlai suburb during Friday prayers, when the facility was packed with worshippers. The bomber fired at security guards before detonating explosives among the congregation, according to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

Witnesses described a scene of devastation inside the mosque, with bodies and wounded lying across the carpeted floor. Children were among the casualties, with some of the wounded reported in critical condition.

Hussain Shah, who was praying in the mosque courtyard when the explosion occurred, said he immediately recognized the sound as a major attack. “I immediately thought that some big attack has happened,” he said. He entered the mosque to find chaos, with many wounded screaming and crying for help. Shah counted around 30 bodies inside the mosque, while the number of wounded appeared significantly higher.

Another witness, Zahir Hussain, told reporters he was parking to enter the mosque when the massive explosion threw him against his car door. The bomber was stopped at the gate before detonating the explosives.

Emergency responders and residents rushed to transport the wounded to nearby hospitals. Television footage showed bloodied victims being carried on stretchers or by their arms and legs. At least one casualty arrived at a hospital in the boot of a car, while friends and relatives of the wounded screamed as they reached the heavily guarded emergency ward.

Aun Shah said his father was badly injured in the attack, describing a serious abdominal wound.

PIMS Hospital reached full capacity as victims flooded in, forcing authorities to transfer some of the wounded to other medical facilities in Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi. Hospitals urgently needed blood donations to treat the large number of casualties.

Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon confirmed the death toll and casualty figures. Police said they were investigating whether the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, though suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban or Islamic State. The ISIS-Khorasan affiliate has been blamed for previous attacks on Shia worshippers, who represent a minority in Pakistan. The attack specifically targeted Shia minority worshippers during their Friday prayers.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack in a statement, calling it a crime against humanity. “The nation stands with the affected families in this difficult time,” Zardari said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a full investigation into the bombing and vowed those responsible would face punishment. He instructed authorities to provide all possible medical assistance to the wounded.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and directed authorities to ensure the best medical care for victims.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar described the incident as a cowardly suicide attack on innocent worshippers, calling it a heinous crime against humanity and a violation of Islamic principles.

Shia leader Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri expressed deep sorrow over the attack at Khadija Al-Kubra, saying the terrorist act represented a serious failure in protecting human lives and raised significant questions about the performance of authorities and law enforcement agencies. He urged people to donate blood to meet urgent hospital needs.

The attack occurred while Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was attending an event with Sharif in Islamabad during an official two-day visit. The event took place several miles from the bombing site.

Defence Minister Asif alleged the attacker had been traveling to and from Afghanistan.

The United Kingdom ambassador condemned the attack, calling the violence abhorrent. The ambassador expressed outrage and heartbreak over the horrific attack during Friday prayers.

Pakistan has experienced a surge in militant violence in recent months, largely attributed to Baloch separatist groups and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, known as TTP. The Pakistani Taliban is a separate organization but allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban. A regional affiliate of Islamic State has also been active in the country.

Though attacks are less frequent in Islamabad compared to other regions of Pakistan, the capital has not been immune to militant violence. Alert levels in the capital were raised to the highest level after a court bombing occurred.

In November 2025, a suicide bomber struck outside a court in Islamabad, killing 12 people. The last deadliest attack in the capital occurred in 2008, when a suicide bombing targeted the Marriott Hotel, killing 63 people and wounding more than 250 others.

The latest bombing comes nearly a week after the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army carried out multiple attacks in the insurgency-hit southwestern Balochistan province, killing about 50 people. In response to those assaults, the military said security forces killed more than 200 terrorists.

Militant groups across Pakistan frequently target security forces and civilians. The country faces threats from various terrorist organizations, including separatist movements in Balochistan province and religiously motivated extremist groups that have targeted religious minorities, particularly Shia Muslims.

The bombing at Khadija Al-Kubra mosque underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Pakistan’s government as it attempts to protect civilians and places of worship from terrorist attacks. The incident has renewed debates about security measures in the capital and the effectiveness of counterterrorism operations.

Religious sites, particularly those serving minority communities, have become increasingly vulnerable targets for extremist groups seeking to inflame sectarian tensions. The attack on worshippers during Friday prayers represents a deliberate attempt to terrorize the Shia community and disrupt religious observance at one of the most sacred times for Muslim worship.

As investigations continue, Pakistani authorities face mounting pressure to identify those responsible and prevent future attacks on civilian targets in the capital and throughout the country.

Sources:

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/bombing-shiite-mosque-islamabads-outskirts-kills-24-wounds-129909580
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pakistan-islamabad-mosque-attack-suicide-bombing/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/6/explosion-rocks-mosque-in-pakistans-islamabad
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/06/bombing-explosion-shia-mosque-pakistan-islamabad