Dozens killed in suicide blast on Pakistan-India border

At least 55 people were killed and 120 wounded on Sunday when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a restaurant on the Pakistani-Indian border in an attack claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.

Latest update : 2014-11-03

The attack at the Wagah border crossing near the Pakistani city of Lahore came just after a daily ceremony when troops from both India and Pakistan simultaneously lower the two nations’ flags.

Police said at least 55 people had been killed in the blast, revising upwards a previous estimated death toll of 45.

“We claim the Lahore suicide attack,” senior Taliban commander Gilamn Mehsud said.

Mehsud said the attack was carried out in response to the Pakistani army’s operation against Islamist militants in the tribal areas straddling the Afghan border.

The suicide bombing took place in a car park on the Pakistani side at least 500 meters from the border with India. No Indian troops were hurt in the attack.

Scattered bodies

Hundreds of people visit the border crossing each day to watch the flag-lowering ceremony, which takes place just before sunset.

“I was sitting in my office near the border when I heard the blast. I rushed to the scene and saw scattered bodies, injured men, women and children and smashed cars,” a Pakistani intelligence source told Reuters.

Media reports earlier said the explosion was caused by a gas cylinder but later police said it was probably a suicide bomber.

Police said they were investigating, and that at least 120 people were wounded.

“According to initial information it was a suicide attack,” Inspector General of Punjab Police, Mushtaq Sukhera, told local television channels.

“When ... security was a bit relaxed, the suicide attacker blew himself up near a restaurant.”

Ashok Kumar, inspector general of India’s Border Security Force guarding Wagah, said the blast had taken place at around 6:15pm local time.

“Our side is safe. We are alert, have increased our security, we are in constant touch with district officials and state police,” he said.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars and remain locked in a bitter conflict over the region of Kashmir, which both sides claim.

India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring jihadist groups in the region and encouraging them to make inroads into Indian territory to stage attacks against Indian forces, a charge Pakistan denies.

But the Taliban claim of responsibility suggested the suicide bombing had nothing to do with India.

(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)