UPDATE: Four suspects, including the alleged mastermind, have been arrested in connection with the devastating mosque bombing that rocked Islamabad on February 3, 2023. The attack, which occurred during Friday prayers at a Shiite mosque in the Tarlai area, resulted in 31 deaths and left 169 injured.
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that among the detained is an Afghan national believed to have orchestrated the attack. During the raids on their locations, these suspects engaged in a violent confrontation that led to the death of a counterterrorism officer and injuries to three others.
The horrific bombing was claimed by the Islamic State, which reported that a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vest in a crowded mosque. Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos as the blast occurred, sending worshippers into a panic. Notably, Pakistani officials stated that while the bomber had frequented Afghanistan, he was not originally from there.
This incident marks the deadliest attack in Pakistan’s capital in over a decade, triggering an outpouring of grief as large crowds gathered for funerals on Saturday. The aftermath of the attack has intensified accusations between Pakistan and India, with Naqvi alleging Indian funding for the attackers. However, India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly dismissed these claims as “baseless” and condemned the violence.
Furthermore, Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, suggested that the Afghan government might have played a role in facilitating the attack, a statement met with strong denial from Afghan officials who labeled it as lacking “credible evidence.”
The recent bombing follows a troubling spike in violence across Pakistan, including a series of attacks in Balochistan that killed 58 people. In a response to ongoing violence, Pakistani forces have reportedly killed around 200 Balochistan Liberation Army militants in retaliatory operations.
As investigations continue, authorities urge the public to remain vigilant. The government is expected to enhance security measures across places of worship and other vulnerable locations.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
