By Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad, long regarded as a symbol of Pakistan’s administrative stability, has been jolted by a tragic reminder that no city is immune to the scourge of militancy. On Friday, a suicide attack at the Khadijat-ul-Kubra Imambargah in Tarlai claimed the lives of at least 31 people and left 169 others injured, turning what should have been a sacred space into a scene of horror. The blast, which occurred during Friday prayers, shattered windows of surrounding buildings and sent shockwaves of fear across the capital, leaving a community—and a nation—grappling with grief, anger, and anxiety. Eyewitness accounts paint a chilling picture of the chaos. Worshippers recalled the first moments of prayer before the sound of gunfire pierced the mosque, followed by the terrifying detonation of explosives.
Survivors like Zahid Ali described falling into prostration when the blast erupted, witnessing friends and fellow worshippers torn apart around him. His cousin, Jawad Khan, recounted the moments after ablution, seeing the attacker fire at the guard before detonating inside the mosque. Another witness, Zaheer Abbas, described the sensory disorientation of the scene: smoke, screams, and wounded individuals strewn across the floor. These accounts underscore not only the violence of the attack but also the intimate human cost—the ordinary lives abruptly shattered in moments of worship. Authorities quickly responded. Police, emergency responders, and law enforcement teams arrived at the scene while hospitals, including Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic, were placed on emergency alert.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Health Minister to oversee the treatment of the injured personally and instructed the Interior Minister to investigate the incident and ensure accountability. The state’s swift mobilization underscores the gravity of the attack and its symbolic challenge to the capital’s security architecture. The Pakistani government has identified the attacker as a foreign national linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, reportedly trained in Afghanistan. Security forces have suggested a nexus involving regional proxies, highlighting a broader pattern of cross-border militancy. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the perpetrators as “enemies of religion and the country,” promising that the state would respond decisively.
These assertions come amidst ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where over 1,500 militants have been neutralized in the past year and more than 58,000 operations conducted. The Tarlai attack, therefore, is not an isolated incident but part of a persistent challenge to Pakistan’s internal security, exacerbated by regional instability. The attack has also triggered a wave of international concern. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott condemned the bombing and expressed solidarity with Pakistan, while Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moqadam offered condolences and prayers for the victims. Australia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and the European Union similarly denounced the attack, reflecting a shared recognition of the indiscriminate violence of terrorism and the vulnerability of civilians even in ostensibly secure urban centers.
The statements of these governments also underline the international dimension of security in Pakistan: attacks in the capital reverberate far beyond national borders, shaping diplomatic perceptions and regional confidence. Islamabad’s Safe City infrastructure, which relies on surveillance, facial recognition, and rapid response systems, has been a cornerstone of urban security. The 2025 annual report of Safe City Islamabad highlighted substantial investments: nearly 100,000 surveillance operations conducted, over 696 AI-based cameras installed, and tens of thousands of calls and complaints managed through digital platforms. Yet, as this tragic event demonstrates, even sophisticated monitoring systems face limits when confronted with determined, violent actors.
The suicide bombing calls for a reassessment of counter-terrorism strategy, not only in technological terms but in the coordination of intelligence, law enforcement, and community engagement. The attack occurred at a particularly sensitive moment, coinciding with the visit of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Islamabad to sign investment agreements worth billions of dollars. Such violence is a stark reminder that terrorism is not merely a domestic concern—it can have ripple effects on international relations, trade confidence, and investor sentiment. Yet, in the face of fear, both government and civil society have emphasized resilience. Civic groups and religious organizations have called for solidarity, mourning, and prayer for the victims, asserting that cowardly acts of terror cannot shake the resolve of the Pakistani people.
(The writer has diverse in knowledge and has a good omen in politics, can be reached at editorial@metro-morning.com)
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