31 Killed in Suicide Attack at Shi’ite Mosque in Pakistan’s Capital
Last update: February 6, 2026
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Deadliest attack of its kind in Islamabad in more than a decade leaves nearly 170 wounded.
A suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and wounded almost 170 others during Friday prayers at a Shiite Muslim mosque in Islamabad, officials said, marking the deadliest such attack in the capital in more than ten years.
Images from the scene showed bloodied bodies on the carpeted floor of the mosque, surrounded by shattered glass, debris and panicked worshippers.
CBI News reports that dozens of injured people were seen lying in the gardens of the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah, located in a semi urban area on the outskirts of the city, as bystanders called for help.
Two police officials said the attacker was stopped at the mosque gate before detonating the explosive device. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to brief the media.
Bomb attacks are rare in the heavily guarded capital, though Pakistan has faced a resurgence of militant violence in recent years, particularly in areas near the Afghan border.
Conflict monitoring group ACLED said the attack was the deadliest suicide bombing in Islamabad in over a decade and said it bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State group.
Shiites, who form a minority in the predominantly Sunni country of about 241 million people, have long been targeted in sectarian attacks, including by Islamic State and the Sunni militant group Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan.
The capital had already been placed on high alert on Friday due to the visit of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, with roads blocked by checkpoints and security forces deployed across the city.
The attack came after a violent week in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, where separatist militants carried out coordinated assaults on government buildings, hospitals and markets, killing 58 civilians and security personnel. The military said it killed 216 militants in subsequent operations.
Earlier on Friday, the military said another 24 militants linked to Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan were killed in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The last major attack in Islamabad was a suicide bombing in November that killed 12 people and wounded 27 others. Authorities said it was carried out by an Afghan national, and no group claimed responsibility.
