Pakistan Vows To Respond With 'Full Force' After Islamabad Suicide Blast, Blames Afghan Taliban

Last Updated:February 06, 2026, 22:29 IST

Pakistan vowed to respond with "full force" after 31 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad on Friday.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif promised that the Shehbaz Sharif-led government will respond forcefully after a suspected suicide blast at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 31 people on Friday, while blaming the Taliban regime in Afghanistan for the attack.

At least 31 people were killed and 169 people injured in a suicide bombing at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra, a Shiite mosque, in the federal capital during Friday prayers. The attack occurred during the two-day official visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Taking to X, Asif suggested Afghanistan’s involvement in the attack, saying that “it has been proved that the terrorist involved in the attack travelled to and from Afghanistan." He accused the Taliban regime of facilitating terrorism in Pakistan.

The Pakistani Defence Minister said the security guards had “challenged" the attacker, who opened fire in response. “He then blew himself up, standing in the last row of worshippers," Asif said, adding that the state will respond with “full force".

READ MORE: 31 Killed, 169 Injured In Suspected Suicide Blast Near Mosque In Pakistan

‘Intelligence Failure’

Asif also suggested India’s involvement in the suicide blast, without evidence, claiming that the “collusion between India and Afghanistan was being exposed." He also ruled out any talks with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

However, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that by repeatedly stressing that worshippers were martyred inside mosques, Asif is trying to reclaim the moral high ground. Sources said the suicide blast in Islamabad was an intelligence failure, and such attacks on mosques were dangerous not just for the public but also for Pakistan’s own religious legitimacy.

Furthermore, Pakistan’s decision of ‘no talks, only action’ marks a clear shift from Pakistan’s earlier strategy of engagement with the Taliban, and they were never keen for peaceful solution with the Taliban as multiple peace talks failed, sources said.

Pakistan, once an ally of the Taliban, has long blamed Afghanistan for sheltering terrorist groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), besides enabling attacks by Baloch insurgents like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The rise of TTP attacks and multiple attacks on Pakistani security forces have strained ties between the two countries, resulting in cross-border clashes last year.

Multiple rounds of talks facilitated by Turkey, along with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have remained inconclusive, with Kabul firmly rejecting what it described as Pakistan’s “illegitimate" conditions for a broader peace settlement. Meanwhile, Pakistan has demanded that the Afghan Taliban hand over TTP militants and recognise Islamabad’s security primacy over Kabul.

News world Pakistan Vows To Respond With 'Full Force' After Islamabad Suicide Blast, Blames Afghan Taliban

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