A suicide blast at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Tarlai Kalan on the outskirts of Rawalpindi left at least 31 worshippers martyred and 169 injured, police officials said on Friday.
The Rawalpindi mosque suicide blast occurred when a foreign suicide bomber, identified by authorities as affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij, was stopped at the mosque’s gate and he detonated his explosives, officials said. Security forces and police have launched operations in the area following the explosion to secure the site and pursue leads related to the assailant’s network.
The Pakistani government has increasingly used the term Fitna al-Khawarij in official statements to refer to militants from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), aiming to delegitimise their ideology and highlight their threat to national stability.
The Rawalpindi mosque suicide blast is the latest in a series of high-profile militant attacks in Pakistan:
Balochistan Terror Attacks on 12 Cities (Jan 2026): The Pakistan Army announced on February 5 that 36 civilians, including women and children, and 22 security personnel were martyred in the attacks carried out by the militants of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on 12 cities of the restive Balochistan province on January 31 and the ensuing clearance operations launched by the security forces. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced almost a week later that 216 militants were killed by the security forces while repulsing the attacks and then clearing the area of militants.
At least 40 martyred, 120 wounded in Bajaur suicide bombing at JUI-F rally
Cadet College Wana Assault (Nov 2025): Armed terrorists, identified by the military as linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, attacked Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan. Security forces repelled the assault, evacuated students and staff and killed the attackers after they attempted to breach campus defences.
Orakzai Border Clash (Oct 2025): A coordinated insurgent operation near the Afghan border resulted in a deadly clash between militants labelled as Fitna al-Khawarij and Pakistani paramilitary units, killing dozens on both sides during fighting triggered by roadside bombs and gunfire.
Balochistan attack claims lives of at least 20 coal miners in Duki
Islamabad Suicide Bombing (Nov 2025): A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the District Judicial Complex in Islamabad’s G-11 sector, killing 12 and injuring dozens. The attack was claimed by a faction of the TTP and underscored the persistent domestic threat posed by militant networks.
These incidents reflect a sustained campaign of violence by extremist elements operating in Pakistan’s border regions and urban centres, prompting intensified intelligence-based operations by security agencies. Officials say the ongoing counterterror effort seeks to dismantle militant infrastructure and prevent further loss of civilian life.