At least 31 people were killed and another 169 injured in a suicide bombing targeting an imambargah during Friday prayers in Islamabad. The blast occurred at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra, located in the Tarlai area of the federal capital.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif suggested India’s and Afghanistan’s involvement in the attack, asserting, “It has been proven that terrorists involved in the assault traveled to and from Afghanistan.”
Muhammad Kazim, a 52-year-old resident of Gilgit-Baltistan now living in Islamabad, described how an “extremely powerful” explosion occurred during prayers as they commenced. He told AFP: “While we were still in the bowing position, gunfire was heard, followed by an explosive blast.”
Kazim managed to escape uninjured but accompanied his injured friend to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital for treatment. Notably, debris fell from the roof and windows shattered during the incident.
“People scattered across the area; many had lost their lives,” he added as he recounted seeing numerous bodies after escaping the scene.