Islamabad: Pakistani authorities announced the arrest of four "facilitators" connected to the recent suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad, which resulted in at least 31 deaths and numerous injuries.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Interior Ministry revealed that the arrests were made following coordinated raids in Peshawar and Nowshera districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province. These operations, based on both technical and human intelligence, led to the capture of the Afghan ISIS mastermind allegedly responsible for the attack. The ministry further stated that the planning, training, and indoctrination for the attack were conducted in Afghanistan by ISIS, highlighting ongoing concerns about terrorism under the Afghan Taliban's patronage posing a threat to regional peace.
The operations were not without cost; one law enforcement official was killed, and four others were injured. The Interior Ministry affirmed the resilience of their forces and indicated that additional intelligence-based operations are currently underway.
In a separate statement, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused terrorist organizations operating from Afghanistan of receiving financial support from India. He emphasized Pakistan's role as a barrier against these terrorist threats, warning of broader implications if this barrier were to weaken. Both India and Afghanistan have denied involvement in the bombing.
Earlier, funeral prayers for the victims were conducted, drawing thousands of mourners, including federal ministers, to a mass funeral held in Islamabad. The attack, which occurred during Friday prayers at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in the Shehzad Town area, was the second significant attack in the city in less than three months.
International condemnation of the attack was swift. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon both expressed their solidarity with Pakistan. Anwar extended condolences to the victims' families and reaffirmed Malaysia's support for Pakistan, while President Rahmon emphasized Tajikistan's condemnation of the attack and the importance of continued counter-terrorism efforts.