ISLAMABAD — Pakistani authorities have arrested four individuals, including an alleged mastermind, in connection with the Friday suicide bombing that killed 32 people at a Shiite mosque, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced Saturday.
The arrests followed a series of high-stakes raids that underscore the volatile security situation in the capital. According to Naqvi, a counter-terrorism officer was killed and three others were wounded during the operations to apprehend the suspects.
The Investigation Focuses on “Mastermind”
The Interior Minister identified an Afghan national as the suspected mastermind behind the strike on the Imam Bargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque in the Tarlai area. The Islamic State (IS) group had previously claimed responsibility for the carnage, which left more than 160 people injured.
“We have dismantled a significant cell responsible for this tragedy,” Naqvi stated, though he warned that the threat remains high. In response, the government has pledged a massive security overhaul for Islamabad, including:
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The recruitment of thousands of new police officers.
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The acceleration of “smart security” surveillance systems across the city.
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Increased checkpoints at all major entry and exit points.
Funerals Amidst High Tension
On Saturday, thousands of mourners flooded the streets of Islamabad to bury the 32 victims. The funerals were held under heavy military guard, with soldiers and snipers positioned along the procession routes.
The human toll of the blast—the deadliest to hit the capital in over a decade—was evident in the grief of families like that of Ashiq Hussain. Hussain told reporters his family was “completely broken” after the loss of his 21-year-old nephew, Mujtaba Ali. Survivors recounted horrific scenes to the press, describing a “rain of debris” and bodies scattered across the prayer hall.
A Diplomatic Firestorm
The blast has not only shattered local peace but ignited a regional blame game:
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Accusations against India: Minister Naqvi accused India of funding the perpetrators and providing targets. The Indian Foreign Ministry swiftly rejected these claims as “baseless” and “malicious,” while simultaneously condemning the bombing.
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Friction with Afghanistan: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif suggested Afghan soil was used to launch the attack. The Afghan Taliban government called the remarks “regrettable,” noting that Pakistan had failed to provide credible evidence.
Regional Context: A Week of Violence
The Islamabad bombing was the grim finale to a week of unprecedented bloodshed across Pakistan. Just days prior, coordinated attacks in the province of Balochistan by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) killed 58 civilians. The Pakistani military responded with a massive counter-offensive, claiming to have killed over 200 militants.
While the BLA and ISIS represent different ideological threats—separatist vs. religious extremist—the sheer volume of attacks has placed the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under intense pressure to stabilize the nation.
President Asif Ali Zardari echoed the national sentiment Saturday, calling the targeting of worshippers a “crime against humanity” that will not go unpunished.
