BEIJING/ISLAMABAD: China on Sunday strongly condemned the suicide attack on a mosque in Islamabad and reaffirmed its full support for Pakistan’s efforts to maintain national security and stability.
In a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Beijing said it was deeply shocked by the deadly explosion in Islamabad that resulted in significant loss of life. China expressed condolences to the families of the victims and extended sympathy to the injured.
The statement said China firmly opposes terrorism in all its forms and fully supports the Pakistani government in safeguarding national security, stability, and the safety of its people.
The condemnation followed a suicide bombing at Imambargah and Mosque Khadijat-ul-Kubra in Islamabad’s Tarlai area during Friday prayers, which claimed at least 33 lives and left dozens injured.
According to investigators, the suicide bomber opened fire at the entrance of the mosque before detonating himself. The attacker was identified as Yasir, 32, a resident of Peshawar, based on records obtained from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
Investigations revealed that the attacker had been residing in Afghanistan for the past five months, where he reportedly received training in weapons handling and suicide bombing. Authorities said approximately four kilograms of explosives were used in the attack, containing a large number of ball bearings.
Sources further disclosed that the attacker fired two shots while approaching the mosque and six inside the hall before carrying out the blast. He allegedly wore the suicide jacket in Nowshera and travelled to Islamabad via public transport, stopping briefly at a nearby hotel before heading to the mosque.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the mastermind of the attack, affiliated with the banned Daesh organisation, along with the facilitators, has been arrested during intelligence-based operations in Peshawar and Nowshera.
He said the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), in coordination with other law-enforcement agencies, carried out the raids immediately after the incident. During the operations, a KP police officer was martyred while several others sustained injuries.