President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has strongly condemned the suicide terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Islamabad that occurred on February 6 and resulted in numerous casualties.
In connection with the tragedy, the Tajik head of state on February 7 sent messages of condolence to President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the press service of the President of Tajikistan reported.
“I ask the Almighty to grant mercy and forgiveness to those who lost their lives, and a swift and full recovery to all those injured. The Republic of Tajikistan resolutely condemns this brutal terrorist act and, as always, all manifestations of terrorism, consistently emphasizing the need for an uncompromising fight against it,” the message from Emomali Rahmon said.
Media reports say a suicide blast claimed by the Islamic State group (IS) at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad killed at least 31 people on Friday, February 6, with 169 more wounded in the deadliest attack in Pakistan's capital since the 2008 Marriott hotel bombing.
Pakistani officials said 32 people died in the explosion at the Imam Bargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque in the Tarlai area on the Islamabad's outskirts, with scores more being treated for injuries. The death toll was expected to rise further.
The blast occurred at Friday prayers, when mosques around the country are packed with worshipers. IS said one of its militants had targeted the congregation, detonating an explosive vest and "inflicting a large number of deaths and injuries", according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist communications, Le Monde reports.
Thousands of mourners gathered in the capital on Saturday to bury the victims of the attack, which killed at least 32 worshippers and injured 170 others, officials said, according to Al Jazeera.
