'Pakistan Chooses To Delude Itself...': India Condemns Islamabad Blast, Slams Pakistan For Blaming Others

India on Friday condemned the deadly suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad and expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

At the same time, New Delhi firmly rejected Pakistan's attempt to blame external forces for the attack, stating that such allegations were baseless and unhelpful.

India Condemns Attack, Rejects Allegations

In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the mosque bombing as condemnable and expressed sympathy for those who lost their lives. The government said it stood in solidarity with the victims and their families during this difficult time.

However, India also strongly responded to remarks from Pakistan that hinted at external involvement in the incident. The MEA said it was unfortunate that Pakistan, instead of addressing issues within its own society, continued to shift blame elsewhere.

"The bombing at an Islamabad mosque earlier today is condemnable, and India condoles the loss of life it has caused. It is unfortunate that, instead of seriously addressing the problems plaguing its social fabric, Pakistan should choose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills," the statement said.

India further added that it rejects any such allegations, calling them baseless and pointless.

Deadly Blast At Shia Mosque In Islamabad

The response from India came after a devastating suicide bombing targeted a Shia mosque in Pakistan's capital during Friday prayers. According to officials, at least 70 people were killed and more than 200 others injured in the attack, making it one of the deadliest recent assaults on the Shia community in the country.

The explosion occurred at the Khadijah al Kubra mosque-cum-imambargah in Islamabad's Tarlai area. Police said the blast was powerful enough to be heard from a considerable distance and caused massive destruction inside the premises.

Eyewitnesses and officials reported that the attacker was stopped at the entrance of the imambargah but managed to detonate the explosives he was carrying. Some reports also suggested that the attacker opened fire before triggering the blast.

Investigation Underway, No Claim Of Responsibility

Authorities said no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. However, police sources indicated that the suspected bomber was a foreign national with alleged links to Fitna al Khwaraji, a term often used by officials to refer to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The TTP later issued a statement denying involvement in the attack. Meanwhile, the blast also affected several families of officials, with a relative of Islamabad's police chief among those killed and another injured.

Television footage from the scene showed extensive damage, with broken glass and debris scattered across the prayer hall as rescue teams rushed to help the injured. Investigations into the attack are ongoing as authorities work to determine responsibility and prevent further violence.