ISIS claims responsibility for fatal mosque attack near Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on a Shiite mosque in the Tarlai area, near Islamabad, Pakistan, in a message posted on Telegram. The claim has been reported by several media outlets, including Reuters. Following the attack, the United States, China, Russia, the European Union, Iran, and the Taliban condemned it strongly in separate statements. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad stated that the attack, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of innocent worshippers, is vehemently condemned. The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad expressed condolences to the victims and stated its solidarity with the people of Pakistan during these difficult times. The Russian embassy and the EU delegation in Pakistan also condemned the attack. The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry and the Afghan Embassy under Taliban control in Islamabad, in separate statements, denounced the attack as contrary to Islamic and humanitarian values and expressed sympathy with the victims’ families. Iran also condemned the incident, emphasizing the need for regional cooperation to combat terrorism. According to Pakistani officials, the explosion occurred during Friday prayers at the Khadija Kobra mosque. Official figures indicate at least 31 people were killed and more than 170 others injured, although witnesses report the possibility of increased casualties. Pakistani police stated that the suicide bomber detonated himself after being stopped at the mosque entrance, and his identity has been confirmed through national databases. Authorities reported that the 32-year-old man was from Peshawar and had traveled to Afghanistan several times before. This attack is described as the deadliest security incident in Islamabad in nearly two decades, with the last major attack occurring in September 2008 at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.