Anger spilled onto the streets of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Friday after a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Pakistan’s federal capital, Islamabad, left at least 31 people dead and 169 injured, according to official tallies shared by authorities there.Demonstrators gathered in the Sumbal area of Bandipora, raising anti-Pakistan slogans and chanting in support of India, while calling for an end to sectarian violence against Shia Muslims. The protest unfolded within hours of news of the Islamabad attack spreading across the region, underscoring how sectarian bloodshed across the border continues to reverberate in Kashmir’s sensitive political and social landscape.
Witnesses in Sumbal said the protesters, largely drawn from the Shia community, marched through local streets carrying placards condemning attacks on religious minorities and accusing militant groups operating in Pakistan of perpetuating violence against Shias. Slogans denounced extremist outfits and urged stronger international pressure to curb sectarian militancy. Police maintained a presence but reported no clashes or detentions during the demonstration.
The Islamabad bombing struck during prayers at a Shiite mosque, with officials there describing the attack as a suicide blast that caused extensive casualties among worshippers. Emergency services were deployed to nearby hospitals, where doctors struggled to cope with the influx of injured. Security agencies in Pakistan said an investigation was under way to determine responsibility, though suspicion quickly fell on militant groups with a history of targeting Shia gatherings.
Shia Muslims form a significant religious minority in Pakistan and have long faced violence from sectarian outfits. Groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Islamic State’s regional affiliate have repeatedly claimed or been blamed for attacks on mosques, processions and community leaders. Analysts tracking militancy in the region say such assaults are often intended to inflame sectarian tensions and challenge the authority of the Pakistani state.
In Bandipora, community leaders said the protest was meant to express solidarity with victims across the border while also voicing frustration at what they described as a persistent pattern of attacks on Shias. “People are angry and fearful,” said one local cleric who addressed the gathering. “The killings do not stop at borders. When Shias are targeted anywhere, the pain is shared everywhere.”
The demonstration also reflected the complex political messaging that often accompanies protests in Kashmir. Alongside condemnation of militant violence, participants raised pro-India slogans, a move that local observers said was aimed at drawing a clear distinction between their grievances and separatist politics. Security officials said they were monitoring the situation closely but stressed that the protest remained peaceful.
Bandipora district, located in north Kashmir, has a sizeable Shia population and has previously seen demonstrations linked to events affecting Shia communities elsewhere in the region. Such protests are usually tightly watched by authorities given Kashmir’s long history of unrest and the potential for external events to trigger local tensions.
Across Pakistan, the Islamabad blast has renewed scrutiny of the state’s efforts to rein in sectarian militancy. Despite years of counter-terrorism operations, militant networks continue to demonstrate the capacity to strike high-profile targets, particularly religious minorities. Security experts note that urban centres, including the capital, have not been immune, challenging official narratives of improved stability.
The attack has also drawn condemnation from political leaders and religious organisations within Pakistan, many of whom have called for unity and stronger measures to protect places of worship. Hospitals in Islamabad appealed for blood donations as families searched for missing relatives, highlighting the human toll behind the casualty figures.