Expert Comment
Pearl Pandya on the suicide bomb attack in Pakistan’s capital
ACLED’s South Asia Senior Analyst Pearl Pandya comments on the deadliest suicide bombing in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, in over a decade
Pearl Pandya, South Asia Senior Analyst at ACLED said:
"On 6 February, unidentified attackers carried out a suicide bombing against worshippers attending Friday prayers at a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad, killing at least 30 people. According to ACLED data, this is the deadliest suicide bombing in the Federal Capital Region in more than a decade, with the death toll potentially rising as further information emerges.
Though no group has formally claimed responsibility, the attack bears the hallmarks of the Islamic State, which has a record of targeting sectarian minorities in Pakistan, including Shia and Hazara communities. If confirmed, this would mark the Islamic State’s first attack in Islamabad since 2022 — when IS militants carried out a targeted killing of a Shia individual — and its first major bombing in the capital."
For an interview with Pearl Pandya, contact the ACLED press office, [email protected].
ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) is a global monitor that collects, analyzes, and maps data on conflict and protest. ACLED provides detailed information to help identify, understand, and track patterns and trends in conflict and crisis situations around the world.
