Islamabad, February 23 – The suicide bombing by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) targeting a Shia mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, which claimed 36 lives and injured over 160 others during Friday prayers on February 6, should raise concerns within the state on several levels, as it indicates the possible emergence of another militant group in the country.
"The attack punctured what is routinely described as the country's most fortified zone, signaling that the operational capacity of the terrorists cannot be dismissed as merely residual. It also risks reigniting sectarian fault lines in the country that had been subdued in recent years. Most critically, the attack points to the possible emergence of yet another militant group alongside the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch militants," wrote journalist and analyst Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud in 'The Express Tribune' magazine.
The ISKP, which has a presence across the region from Central Asia to Turkey, has faced significant losses in recent years. Despite these significant losses, the group has managed to carry out sporadic but highly unpredictable attacks in Pakistan and other nations, which have left state authorities in a state of shock. Since its formation, the ISKP's parent organization, the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL), has consistently adhered to an anti-Shia ideology. Over time, the ISKP has expanded its targets to the US, China, Russia, and other nations.
"A close examination of the ISKP's propaganda content reveals that the spread of anti-Shia content is an enduring theme, ranging from the generation of extreme hatred to the incitement of extreme violence against Shias. The ISKP's rivalry with the Taliban-led Afghan interim government, and even Hamas, is also closely tied to their ties with Iran, with the group viewing anyone who befriends Iran as a prime target," wrote Mehsud.
The attack on the mosque in Islamabad was followed by several statements on mainstream and social media, with many speculating that it was either an attempt to disrupt the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (
