Pakistani authorities have identified the suicide bomber behind the deadly attack at Islamabad’s Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra as a resident of Peshawar who allegedly received militant training in Afghanistan, officials said on Saturday, as investigators continued to piece together the planning and execution of the assault that killed at least 31 people during Friday prayers.
The suspect, identified as Yasir Khan Yasir, was not an Afghan national but had travelled to Afghanistan multiple times and spent nearly five months there before returning to Pakistan, according to preliminary findings cited by The Express Tribune. Officials said the identification was made through forensic analysis of the bomber’s remains.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry confirmed that the attacker’s identity had been established through forensic evidence recovered after the blast. “He is not an Afghan citizen, but forensic examination of the remaining parts of his body has provided information about how many times he had travelled to Afghanistan,” he said.
Also Read: Islamabad mosque blast exposes Pakistan’s internal security fault lines as India is blamed
What investigators know so far about the attacker
Sources associated with the investigation said Yasir Khan was influenced by the Salafi school of thought and is believed to have undergone militant training during his stay across the border. According to officials, he received training at the Mansoor Istashhadi training centre in Afghanistan’s northeastern Kunar province.
“He received training at the Mansoor Istashhadi training centre in Afghanistan’s northeastern Kunar province and travelled to and from the country multiple times,” sources told The Express Tribune.
Investigators are also examining possible links between the suspect and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). However, officials stressed that the inquiry remains at a preliminary stage and that no final conclusions have been drawn so far.
Authorities said efforts are underway to trace the wider network that may have enabled the attack, including identifying handlers, logistical facilitators, and any domestic or cross-border support that could have played a role.
Deadly blast during Friday prayers
The explosion occurred at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai Kalan area during Friday prayers, killing at least 31 people and injuring 169 others, according to Pakistani officials.
Eyewitnesses told local media that gunfire was heard moments before the explosion, after which the suicide bomber detonated explosives amid a large gathering of worshippers inside the mosque.
Hospitals across the capital were placed on emergency footing as rescue teams rushed the injured to medical facilities. Several victims were reported to be in critical condition.
Political reactions and regional implications
Pakistan was quick to attribute the attack to external forces. However, innocent people of the rogue nation have time and again borne the burden of homegrown terrorism.
The international community condemned the bombing and called for a thorough and transparent investigation. Diplomatic sources said that while the incident has not led to immediate escalation, it underscores the fragile security environment in South Asia.
India strongly denounced the suicide bombing at the Shia mosque in Islamabad, offering condolences to the victims’ families. New Delhi also rejected Pakistan’s allegations as “baseless,” describing them as an attempt to divert attention from Pakistan’s internal challenges.