An Islamic State affiliate has claimed responsibility for a devastating suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque near Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, where 31 people lost their lives and 169 others suffered injuries. Grieving families gathered under tight security at the mosque on Saturday for funeral services honoring the victims.

Details of the Attack

The regional branch, known as Islamic State in Pakistan, issued a statement via its Amaq News Agency detailing the assault. The bomber clashed with security forces at the main entrance before detonating explosives at the inner gate of the mosque. The group described Pakistani Shiites as a “human reservoir” for fighters supporting Shiite forces against Islamic State in Syria, justifying the target selection.

This incident stands as the deadliest in the capital since the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing, which killed 63 and injured over 250. A suicide attack near a courthouse in November claimed 12 lives.

Arrests and Immediate Response

Officials identified the bomber as a Pakistani national who had recently visited Afghanistan. Security forces detained several suspects, including the attacker’s brother, mother, and other relatives, during overnight raids in Islamabad and northwestern Pakistan. One police officer died in the operations.

More than 2,000 mourners attended as coffins arrived at the mosque for ceremonies. Senior government officials and Shiite community leaders joined services for about a dozen victims, while others held funerals in hometowns.

Broader Context and Sectarian Tensions

Islamic State, a Sunni extremist group, frequently targets Pakistan’s Shiite minority to stoke sectarian divides in the Sunni-majority country. In 2022, it claimed a Peshawar mosque attack that killed at least 56 and injured 194.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif told journalists the strike highlights how militants based in Afghanistan can reach the capital. Afghanistan’s Taliban government condemned the attack but rebuked Asif for “irresponsibly” connecting it to their territory.

Pakistan accuses Taliban-ruled Afghanistan—back in control since August 2021—of sheltering groups like the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP), though Kabul denies this.

International and Domestic Reactions

The United States, Russia, and the European Union joined in condemning the assault. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked supporters “from across the globe” for their sympathy after the “heart-wrenching suicide attack in Islamabad.” He stressed the need for global cooperation in counterterrorism and vowed justice for perpetrators.

While Islamabad has faced fewer attacks than other areas, Pakistan experiences rising militancy from Baloch separatists and TTP, allied with the Afghan Taliban.