Islamabad Suicide Bomber Was Pakistani Citizen Who Travelled to Afghanistan, Says Defence Minister
Attacker Came from Nowshera; Relatives Contacted; Facilitators Arrested in RaidsIslamabad, February 7, 2026 — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has confirmed that the suicide bomber who attacked a Shia mosque in Islamabad on Friday was a Pakistani citizen who had recently travelled to Afghanistan.Speaking on a private television channel, Asif said the attacker had come…
Attacker Came from Nowshera; Relatives Contacted; Facilitators Arrested in Raids
Islamabad, February 7, 2026 — Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has confirmed that the suicide bomber who attacked a Shia mosque in Islamabad on Friday was a Pakistani citizen who had recently travelled to Afghanistan.
Speaking on a private television channel, Asif said the attacker had come from Nowshera to Islamabad and that authorities had already reached his relatives. He accused India of attempting to destabilise Pakistan through proxies and Afghanistan, stating that New Delhi “lacks the courage for direct aggression” but seeks to undermine peace via indirect means.
Interior ministry and security sources have identified the bomber as a resident of Peshawar. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry clarified that the attacker was not an Afghan national, but forensic analysis of his remains confirmed multiple trips to Afghanistan.
Security forces conducted raids in Peshawar and Nowshera overnight, arresting four facilitators linked to the attack. Some reports indicate an Afghan individual affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIL/Daesh) was detained as the alleged mastermind. An ISIL affiliate has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
The explosion at Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah in Tarlai Kalan killed at least 31 to 33 people and injured more than 169 during Friday prayers. It is the deadliest militant attack in Islamabad in over a decade.
Authorities have intensified security across the capital and say the investigation into the attacker’s network, training, and possible cross-border links is ongoing.
