UPDATE - Pakistani authorities arrest 4 'facilitators' over suicide bombing in capital

UPDATES WITH OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF ARRESTS; REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE, DECK

By Islamuddin Sajid and Saadet Gokce

ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL (AA) - Pakistani authorities said on Saturday that four "facilitators" were arrested for their involvement in Friday's suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 31 people and wounded many others.

"Based on technical and human intelligence, coordinated raids were conducted in Peshawar and Nowshera districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province leading to the arrest of four facilitators, including the Afghan ISIS mastermind behind the attack," Interior Ministry said on US social media company X.

"Evidence confirms that planning, training, and indoctrination were carried out in Afghanistan by ISIS. The nexus of terrorism under Afghan Taliban patronage remains a serious threat to regional peace."

During the operations, one law enforcement agencies official was killed, and four were injured, the ministry said, adding: "Our forces remain resolute; further intelligence-based operations are underway."

Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said "terrorist organizations are operating from Afghanistan" and accused India of providing them with financial support.

"We want to tell the world that Pakistan is a wall against these terrorists, if this wall is weakened, no one will be safe," he said.

Both India and Afghanistan have denied any involvement in the attack.

Funeral prayers were held for the victims earlier in the day. Thousands of mourners, including federal ministers, attended the mass funeral in Islamabad.

At least 31 people were killed and 169 injured in the suicide bombing at Imambargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in the Shehzad Town area of Islamabad. The attacker detonated explosives after being confronted by security personnel during Friday prayers.

The Friday suicide bombing was the second major attack in Islamabad in less than three months.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon strongly condemned the suicide bombing and expressed solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan.

"Malaysia stands with the people of Pakistan in this hour of grief. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and express our solidarity with all those affected by this attack," Anwar said on X.

President Rahmon, in a message sent to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said Tajikistan strongly condemned the attack and emphasized the need for continued efforts against terrorism.