At least 31 people have been killed and scores wounded in a suicide bombing at a mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, during Friday prayers, prompting widespread international condemnation.
Pakistani authorities said the attacker struck as worshippers gathered, injuring more than 170 people.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged involvement by India and Afghanistan, claims that were swiftly rejected by both countries.
Kabul and New Delhi also condemned the attack and offered condolences to the victims and their families.
Regional leaders were among the first to respond. Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev conveyed condolences to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to official statements.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar also spoke by phone. Bayramov conveyed condolences on behalf of Azerbaijan’s president, government and people, and expressed solidarity with Pakistan.
Dar condemned the attack and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the bombing as “barbaric”, extending condolences to Pakistan’s leadership and the families of the victims. He said Russia was ready to support Pakistan in counterterrorism efforts, according to the Kremlin.
China’s embassy in Islamabad said Beijing stood “firmly with our Pakistani brothers and sisters in this difficult time”, expressing condolences in a message on the U.S. social media platform X.
Türkiye’s foreign ministry condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism, in a statement posted on Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said preventing and combating terrorism required “the cooperation and coordination of all countries in the region”, alongside sustained efforts to confront its perpetrators, organisers, supporters and financial backers.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar also condemned the bombing, with their foreign ministries voicing firm opposition to violence against places of worship in separate messages on X.
Somalia’s foreign ministry similarly condemned “violence against civilians and places of worship”.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack in the “strongest terms”, saying assaults on civilians and religious sites were “unacceptable”, according to his spokesperson.
European leaders and diplomats also reacted. The French embassy in Pakistan said, “We stand with Pakistan in opposing all forms of terrorism”. German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel said she hoped those responsible would be found and “brought to justice”, adding, “We mourn the loss of life”.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain “stands with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and in support of all communities affected by such senseless violence”.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “horrified” by the attack and that Canadians were keeping the people of Pakistan, the victims, the wounded and their loved ones “in our thoughts today”.
Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Timothy Kane said Australia stood with Pakistan during the difficult time and mourned alongside the country.
The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker said the people of Pakistan “deserve safety, dignity, and the ability to practise their faith without fear”, adding that Washington remained committed to supporting Pakistan’s efforts to advance peace, security and regional stability.
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In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partnership set to shape the South Caucasus corridor for decades to come.
The first-ever “WUF13 NGO Forum” in the history of the World Urban Forum (WUF) was held on 19 May 2026 at Azerbaijan’s initiative in Baku.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for closer security coordination between Central Asia and China, warning that expanding trade and infrastructure links are exposing the region to increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack on Iran after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allowing negotiations to continue over a possible deal to end the conflict.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Estonia said on Tuesday (19 May) that a NATO fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over its territory, in the latest reported airspace violation in the region amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes against Russia.
Sweden has agreed to buy four naval frigates from France’s Naval Group in a deal worth more than $4 billion, as Stockholm moves to strengthen its defence capabilities in the Baltic Sea, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday.
Spanish police said on Tuesday they had detained a 25-year-old man suspected of killing his two parents and injuring four other people, including his son, in a shooting in the southern city of El Ejido in Almeria province overnight.
European Union negotiators are expected to agree on Tuesday (19 May) on legislation removing import duties on U.S. industrial goods, in a move aimed at implementing last year’s trade agreement with the United States and avoiding higher tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
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