China condemned the attack on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad and on Sunday pledged to support the Pakistani government’s efforts to “maintain national security and stability,” Reuters reported.
China is “deeply shocked” by Friday’s attack, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
A gunman opened fire at the entrance to a mosque before detonating a suicide bomb, killing at least 31 people in the deadliest attack of its kind in the Pakistani capital in more than a decade.
The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attack, which was the deadliest in Islamabad since the Marriott hotel bombing in 2008, according to AFP.
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City authorities said an explosion at the Imam Bargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque on the outskirts of the capital killed 31 people and injured 169 others, with officials warning the death toll could rise, according to the report.
The explosion struck during Friday prayers, a time when mosques are usually full of worshippers.
People gather to attend the funeral of victims of a suicide bombing at a Shia Muslim mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Waseem Khan(REUTERS)
“The attacker was stopped at the gate and blew himself up,” a security source told AFP.
Muhammad Kazim, 52, said an “extremely powerful” explosion tore through the building as prayers were about to begin.
Another worshiper, Imran Mahmood, told AFP that there was a shootout between the bomber and volunteer security personnel at the mosque.
“The suicide bomber tried to move forward but one of our wounded volunteers shot him from behind and hit him in the thigh,” he told AFP.
He then “detonated the explosives,” Mahmood added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promised that those behind the blast would be found and brought to justice.
Pakistan is predominantly Sunni, although Shiites make up roughly 10 to 15 percent of the population and have previously been the target of violence across the country.
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The last major attack in Islamabad before Friday was in November, when a suicide bombing outside a court killed 12 people and injured dozens, the first such incident in the capital in nearly three years.
In Balochistan, separatist insurgents carried out attacks last week that left 36 civilians and 22 security personnel dead, triggering a series of counter-operations in which authorities said nearly 200 militants were killed.
Friday’s bombing was the deadliest attack in Islamabad since September 2008, when a suicide truck bomb destroyed part of the five-star Marriott Hotel, killing 60 people.
(With input from agencies)
Key things
- The recent attack highlights the ongoing security challenges facing Pakistan, particularly when it comes to sectarian violence.
- China’s response reflects geopolitical ties between China and Pakistan and emphasizes support in times of crisis.
- The incident underscores the vulnerability of religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly Shia Muslims.