India condemns attack in Pakistan's capital, dismisses Islamabad's claims of involvement as 'pointless'

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - India on Friday condemned the suicide attack in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, and dismissed claims of involvement.

“The bombing at an Islamabad mosque earlier today is condemnable, and India condoles the loss of life it has caused,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement, following the attack that left at least 31 dead and 169 injured in Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra, a Shia Muslim worship site in the Shehzad Town area, during Friday prayers.

The ministry also rejected the "pointless" allegation after Islamabad claimed Indian involvement in the attack, saying: “It is unfortunate… Pakistan should choose to delude itself by blaming others."

Mosharraf Zaidi, Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif's spokesman for foreign media, had said the attack "is only the latest in a series of murderous terrorist attacks orchestrated by India."

"India's terrorist proxies will neither slow down economic recovery, nor divide Pakistani hearts, nor undermine Pakistan's growing diplomatic capital," Zaidi said on US social media company X.

However, New Delhi rejected the allegations. “India rejects any and every such allegation, which is as baseless as it is pointless,” said the Indian ministry.