Blast at mosque in Pakistan’s capital kills at least 31

At least 31 people were killed and over 100 others injured on Friday when a blast struck an Imambargah in Pakistan’s capital, with authorities indicating it may have been a suicide attack.

The death toll was confirmed by Islamabad’s deputy commissioner.

The explosion occurred at Imambargah Qasr‑e‑Khadijat‑ul‑Kubra while worshippers were inside, according to preliminary information from local authorities.

Images from the site showed bloodied bodies lying on the carpeted mosque floor surrounded by shards of glass, debris and panicked worshippers.

Two police officials said the attacker was stopped at the gate of the mosque before detonating the bomb. They asked not to be identified as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Authorities declared an emergency at nearby hospitals as senior district administration and police officials rushed to the scene. Emergency services and law enforcement launched rescue and security operations, and ambulances transported the injured to medical facilities, police said.

The wounded were taken to various hospitals, including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic, while others were being shifted to additional medical centers, officials added.

The blast site has been completely sealed off as investigators work to determine the cause of the explosion.

PM promises to hunt attackers

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, pledging that those responsible would be found and brought to justice.

Islamabad has blamed separatist armed groups in southern Balochistan, the Pakistani Taliban, and other militants in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for using Afghan territory as a safe haven to launch attacks.

The Taliban government in Kabul has repeatedly denied the allegations, and tensions along the border have escalated, with forces from both sides clashing regularly.

The last major attack in Islamabad occurred in November, when a suicide blast outside a court killed 12 people and injured dozens, marking the first such incident in the capital in nearly three years.

Recent attacks in Balochistan prompted counter-operations in which authorities said security forces killed more than 200 militants.

This is a developing story and will be updated as details emerge.