Islamabad – Attacks on places of worship in Pakistan have tragically claimed thousands of lives over the past two decades. Extremist groups, including those nurtured under Afghanistan’s Taliban regime, have repeatedly targeted mosques, madrasas, and religious shrines, showing no regard for the sanctity of these spaces or the innocent worshippers inside.
Security analysts stress that those who carry out terror attacks while claiming ideological motives rarely observe the very principles they purport to defend. As this pattern shows, extremists exploit religious sites for cover yet simultaneously strike them with devastating violence.
A timeline of significant attacks linked to Taliban-influenced factions, including Khwarij, in Pakistan is as follows:
1. Islamabad, Mosque Suicide Attack – 6 February 2026
Over 200 worshippers were injured or killed in a brazen assault targeting a mosque.
2. Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – 29 September 2023
A bombing inside a mosque killed 5 people.
3. Peshawar, Police Lines Mosque – 30 January 2023
Suicide attack killed 84 individuals, mostly police personnel.
4. Peshawar, Kucha Risaldar Mosque – 4 March 2022
At least 62 people died in a suicide bombing.
5. Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Shrine, Sehwan Sharif – 16 February 2017
More than 90 worshippers lost their lives in an attack on the shrine.
6. Parachinar, Kurram Agency – 23 June 2017
Car bomb detonated near an Imam Bargah, killing 67 people.
7. Mohmand Agency – 16 September 2016
Suicide bombing claimed 36 lives among worshippers.
8. Jamia Masjid Hayatabad, Peshawar – 13 February 2015
22 people killed in a mosque attack.
9. Shikarpur, Sindh – 30 January 2015
Explosion inside a mosque killed 61 worshippers.
10. Parachinar, Kurram Agency – 4 February 2012
Suicide bombing near a market mosque killed over 40 people.
11. Khyber Agency Mosque Attack – 19 August 2011
43 people killed.
12. Hazrat Sakhi Sarwar Shrine, Dera Ghazi Khan – 3 April 2011
More than 50 pilgrims were killed in the attack.
13. Darra Adam Khel, National Mosque – 5 November 2010
Friday prayers were targeted; 66 killed, over 80 wounded.
14. Kurram Agency, Spin Tal Mosque – 26 August 2010
Suicide bombing killed 33 worshippers.
15. Data Darbar Shrine, Lahore – 1 July 2010
8 individuals killed in a suicide attack.
16. Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – 19 February 2010
Suicide attack on a mosque killed 33 people.
17. Parade Lane Mosque, Rawalpindi – 4 December 2009
40 worshippers, mostly military officers, were killed.
18. Bari Imam Shrine, Islamabad – 27 May 2005
20 pilgrims lost their lives in a targeted attack.
These incidents illustrate the persistent threat posed by extremist factions operating across borders. Analysts emphasize that the targeting of religious spaces is not only a violation of human and religious rights but also a deliberate strategy to instill fear and undermine societal cohesion.
Authorities continue to investigate cross-border links and operational networks that facilitate these attacks, while security forces maintain heightened vigilance at mosques, shrines, and madrasas nationwide. Despite these efforts, the recurring pattern of attacks highlights the urgent need for regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism strategies that address the ideological roots of extremism.
The human cost of these attacks underscores a tragic reality: those who exploit religion to justify violence leave behind communities traumatized, faith shaken, and families mourning their loved ones. Protecting places of worship remains a national priority as Pakistan grapples with both domestic and cross-border terrorism.
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