A suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and wounded nearly 170 others during Friday prayers at a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, Reuters reported, citing police and government officials.

Images from the site showed bloodied bodies lying on the carpeted mosque floor surrounded by shards of glass, debris and panicked worshippers.

Dozens more wounded were lying in the gardens of the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah, in a semi-urban area on the outskirts of Islamabad, as people called for help.

Bombings are rare in the heavily guarded capital, although Pakistan has been hit by a rising wave of militancy in the past few years.

“The death toll in the blast has risen. A total of 31 people have lost their lives. The number of wounded brought to hospitals has risen to 169,” Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Memon said in a statement.

Two police officials said the attacker was stopped at the gate of the mosque before detonating the bomb. They asked not to be identified as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Uzbekistan and Pakistan have jointly urged Afghanistan to take concrete steps against militant groups operating from its territory, emphasizing that regional stability and major connectivity projects depend on improved security conditions in the country.

The call was made in a joint declaration issued at the conclusion of the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Pakistan. The two sides stressed that peace and stability in Afghanistan are essential for long-term regional peace, economic growth, and the successful implementation of the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project.

According to the declaration, the leaders of both countries underlined that several terrorist organizations continue to operate from inside Afghanistan, posing serious threats to regional and global security. They urged Kabul to take “immediate and concrete actions” to dismantle and eliminate all such groups, and to ensure that Afghan territory is not used for attacks against any other state.

The Islamic Emirate has previously denied the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan.

Former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has highlighted the strategic importance of Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan, noting that visiting Central Asian leaders are likely encouraging Islamabad to strengthen its policies toward Kabul.

In a post on X, Khalilzad emphasized that Central Asian nations have a strategic interest in access to Pakistan and beyond, including the sea, to support their trade and connectivity projects. He pointed out that these countries are particularly focused on developing railways, pipelines, telecommunications, and electricity networks linking Central Asia and Pakistan—a move he said would also serve Pakistan’s interests.

“Of course, Afghanistan’s role is vital to the goal of regional connectivity and development,” Khalilzad said. “Stability in Afghanistan and good Pakistan/Afghanistan relations are the absolute prerequisite.”

He suggested that the Central Asian leaders visiting Islamabad are urging improvements in Pakistan’s Afghanistan policies and expressed hope that Pakistani authorities would listen to these recommendations.

Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that Afghanistan-based militants have carried out recent attacks in Pakistan. Kabul denied the charge, saying it could not be held responsible for security inside Pakistan.

Trade between the two countries remains suspended following a deadly clash near the Durand Line in October.