US, Russia, EU, OIC and others condemn attack in Pakistan; India trashes involvement claims

India trashes Pakistan’s allegations of an Indian link to the bombing

Says ‘Pakistan should choose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills’

New Delhi: A day after a deadly suicide attack targeting a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, which killed 31 people and injured more than 169, condemnations have poured in from across the globe.

Those who expressed solidarity include India, the US, Russia, the European Union, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, without providing any evidence, alleged that India and Afghanistan were linked to the attack.

However, both countries have called the allegations baseless.

“The bombing at an Islamabad mosque earlier today is condemnable, and India condoles the loss of life it has caused,” India said.

As per reports quoting Pakistan authorities, the suicide bomber had detonated explosives at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in the Shehzad Town area during Friday prayers.

The attacker blew himself up after being confronted by security personnel. So far, four people have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating a suicide bombing, Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, said on Saturday.

The United States strongly condemned the attack.

In a statement, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A Baker said Washington denounced “all acts of terror and violence,” calling the assault on worshippers “unacceptable.”

“On behalf of the United States, I offer our sincere condolences to those injured and to the families and loved ones of those killed by this attack.  Acts of terror and violence against civilians and places of worship are unacceptable. The people of Pakistan deserve safety, dignity, and the ability to practice their faith without fear,” Baker said, reiterating that the US would continue support Pakistan’s efforts to advance peace and security.

In a condemnation message, the Russian Embassy in Pakistan described the attack as a “heinous terrorist attack” and expressed condolences to the families of the victims, while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and several other countries issued similar statements condemning the attack and expressing solidarity with Pakistan.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) General Secretariat denounced the bombing, calling it a terrorist act targeting a mosque in the Pakistani capital.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was grateful for the messages of sympathy and support received “from across the globe,” describing the incident as a “heart-wrenching suicide attack.”

He stressed upon that international support remains critical to Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Meanwhile, Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson for Prime Minister Sharif, alleged Indian involvement.

However, India has categorically rejected Pakistan’s allegations of an Indian link.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), describing the attack as “condemnable”, said it was “unfortunate that, instead of seriously addressing the problems plaguing its social fabric, Pakistan chose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills.”

Although Islamabad has witnessed fewer militant attacks compared with other parts of the country, Pakistan has seen a recent surge in violence.

Authorities have largely blamed the increase on Baloch groups and the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban but operates independently.

Kabul also condemned the suicide attack, and the Afghan Defence Ministry denied any involvement.

“The government of Afghanistan is committed to Islamic values, and it never permits the killing or harming of innocents for political objectives, nor does it support the perpetrators of such illegal acts,” the ministry said on X.