Pakistan: Four arrested for suicide blast at Shia mosque in Islamabad; ISKP claims responsibility

Lahore: A suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad has shaken all of Pakistan. The attack occurred during Friday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra Mosque in the Taralai Kalan area of ​​Islamabad. The attacker was identified as 32-year-old Yasir from Peshawar, who shot a security guard at the mosque gate and then detonated himself among the worshippers inside.

Initially, 31 deaths and 169 injuries were reported, but the death toll later rose to 36 due to the deaths of some seriously injured individuals. This attack is considered the deadliest in Islamabad since the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing, further escalating security concerns in the capital.

Who have claimed responsibility?

The terrorist organization Islamic State (IS)'s regional affiliate, 'Islamic State in Pakistan' (also known as ISKP or IS-Khorasan Province), claimed responsibility for the attack. The organization issued a statement on its Amaq news agency and Telegram channel, claiming that the attacker shot a security guard, entered the mosque, and detonated himself near the worshippers.

This claim was also corroborated by organizations like the SITE Intelligence Group. ISKP has previously targeted the Shia community in Pakistan, as they consider them religiously opposed. Pakistani authorities mentioned links to Afghanistan, where the attacker allegedly received training, but the Taliban rejected these allegations, calling it a failure of Pakistan's internal security.

How many people arrested?

Pakistani security forces acted swiftly, arresting four people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including the main conspirator. An Afghan national was also apprehended. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the attack of being planned from Afghan soil. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders strongly condemned the attack and ordered an investigation. Thousands attended the funerals of the victims, where anger was expressed over the security lapse. The Shia community in Kashmir held anti-Pakistan protests.

This incident highlights the growing sectarian terrorism in Pakistan and the threats emanating from across the border. The Shia minority has been targeted before, and this attack further deepens the challenges faced by security agencies. The Pakistani government has vowed to intensify its counter-terrorism operations, but experts believe that such incidents may continue without addressing the networks linked to Afghanistan and internal dissent.