At the Scene of Deadly Pakistan Mosque Explosion

The devastating suicide bombing at Khadija Tul Kubra Mosque in Tarlai Kalan, southeastern Islamabad, on February 6, 2026, claimed 32 lives and injured over 170 others during Friday prayers, marking the deadliest attack in the capital since 2008.[3][1][2] Eyewitnesses described a scene of unimaginable horror, with bloodied victims scattered amid debris and a haunting silence following the blast.[1]

Chaos Erupts During Sacred Prayers

The explosion ripped through the Shiite mosque shortly after prayers began at 1:38 p.m. local time, as confirmed by CCTV footage.[3] The attacker, identified as a suicide bomber from Islamic State – Pakistan Province (IS-PP), approached the main gate where security guards attempted to stop him.[1][2][3] He opened fire on the guards before detonating his explosive vest near the inner gate, causing the structure to collapse and sending shrapnel flying.[1][4]

Zahir Hussain, a witness parking nearby, recounted the moment: “After that, for a while there was horrific silence, then what I saw in the mosque, I don’t have words to explain it.”[1] Photos from the scene captured children among the casualties, with the mosque packed for weekly congregational prayers.[1] Rescue workers cordoned off the area, transporting the injured to hospitals like the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, where calls for blood donations flooded social media and local TV.[3][6] Television footage showed dark blood splatters on concrete and rows of emergency vehicles at the gates.[6]

Forensic teams swarmed the site immediately, analyzing debris and the bomber’s remains amid heightened security.[4] The blast’s force scattered wreckage across the garden and surrounding areas, turning a place of worship into a war zone.[3]

IS Affiliate Claims Responsibility, Targets Shiites

Hours later, IS-PP claimed the attack via its Amaq News Agency on Telegram, releasing a photo of the assailant holding a gun.[1][2][3] The group labeled Pakistani Shiites a “human reservoir” for recruits to Shiite militias fighting IS in Syria, justifying them as legitimate targets.[1][2][3] Preliminary investigations hinted at possible links to Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP) or even Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), though IS-PP’s claim remains primary.[3]

This incident fits a surge in militant violence, echoing a November 2025 courthouse bombing that killed 12.[1][6] Experts note it signals militants’ reach even into Islamabad, amid tensions with Afghanistan.[1][6]

Swift Arrests and Explosive Accusations

Pakistani authorities responded aggressively. By Saturday, security forces raided locations in Islamabad and northwestern Pakistan, arresting four suspects, including the alleged Afghan mastermind linked to IS.[1][2][3] Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the breakthrough, noting the bomber’s brother, mother, and other relatives were also detained; one police officer died in the operation.[1][2]

Naqvi alleged the plot was planned in Afghanistan with Indian financial backing, though no evidence was provided.[1][3] He urged global action against militants operating from Afghan soil, warning of regional spillover.[1] Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif echoed this, blaming Afghanistan-based groups.[1][3] Afghanistan’s Taliban government condemned the attack but rejected the accusations as “irresponsible,” denying it harbors militants like the Pakistani Taliban.[1]

Naqvi addressed security concerns: “If one blast happens, 99 others are being foiled as well.”[1] Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed justice, thanking global support for counterterrorism efforts.[1]

Grief and Mourners Return to the Mosque

Under tight security, over 2,000 mourners gathered at the same mosque Saturday for funerals of about a dozen victims, joined by Shiite leaders and officials.[1][2] Coffins lined the prayer hall as chants of sorrow filled the air.[1] Remaining funerals occurred in victims’ hometowns.[1]

The attack drew widespread condemnation from the United States, Russia, European Union, and others.[1] Domestically, leaders including Sharif decried it as a cowardly act.[3]

Broader Implications for Pakistan’s Security

This bombing underscores Pakistan’s vulnerability despite foiled plots.[1][6] Amid rising militancy, it heightens friction with the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, where Pakistan accuses groups of safe havens.[1][6] Analyst Abdul Basit noted the Taliban’s own conflicts with IS, evident in online information warfare.[6]

Hospitals treated critical cases, with children disproportionately affected.[1][3] The incident revives memories of the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing (63 dead).[1][3]

As investigations continue, Pakistan reinforces patrols in Islamabad.[3] The scene, once echoing with prayers, now stands as a stark reminder of terror’s shadow over daily life. Families mourn, authorities hunt remnants, and the nation braces for fallout from this heart-wrenching tragedy.

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Original source: BBC News – World – At the scene of deadly Pakistan mosque explosion