Pakistans deadly Islamabad bombing raises concerns over cross-border security

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A suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, has left over 30 people dead. The attack occurred during Friday prayers at the Khadija Tul Kubra Mosque in the Tarlai Kalan area of southeastern Islamabad.

According to officials, 169 people were taken to hospitals after rescue teams arrived on the scene. A splinter faction of the ISIL (ISIS) group in Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack through its Telegram channel, releasing an image showing the attacker holding a gun with his face covered and eyes blurred.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that security guards at the mosque attempted to intercept the suspect, who then opened fire before detonating explosives among worshippers. He also alleged that the attacker had been traveling between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Security officials have made several key arrests, including close family members of the suicide bomber in Peshawar and Karachi. However, it is unclear whether these individuals were directly involved in the plot.

The attack marks the second major incident in Islamabad since a suicide blast targeted a district court in November last year. Abdul Sayed, an analyst based in Sweden, stated that ISIL’s Pakistan branch has claimed responsibility for what appears to be its deadliest operation in the country since its formation in May 2019.

Pakistan has seen a rise in violence from fighters over the past three years. According to data released by the Pak Institute of Peace Studies, there were 699 attacks nationwide in 2025, a 34% increase compared to the previous year.

The Afghan Taliban has condemned the mosque bombing and denied providing shelter to anti-Pakistan fighters. However, a United Nations report last year stated that the Afghan Taliban provides support to the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which have ties with ISIL’s affiliate in Khorasan Province.

Pakistan’s military has concluded a weeklong security operation in the southwestern province of Balochistan, claiming the deaths of 216 fighters. The military statement attributed the attacks to the separatist BLA, stating that it aimed to “destabilise the peace of Balochistan”.

Source: Al Jazeera