In Pakistan, death toll has gone upto 55 including 11 women and three security personnel in yesterday's suicide bomb blast at Wagah. Nearly 200 people were also injured when the suicide attacker detonated a powerful bomb minutes after the flag-lowering ceremony at the main Indo-Pak land border crossing. Police Inspector General of Pakistan's Punjab Province Mushtaq Sukhera said, a large number of people were returning after watching Rangers flag ceremony at Wagah border when the suicide bomber blew himself up near one of the exit gates. He said, it appeared that the bomber was a young man of 20-25 years. He said, at least 15 to 20 kilogramme explosives have been used in the blast. TV footage showed shops and nearby buildings destroyed at the site of the blast. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow and condemned the blast. He ordered authorities to provide best medical assistance to the injured. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif expressed the government's resolve to fight terrorism in the country.
Al-Qaeda affiliated militant group Jandullah, which was behind a suicide bombing that killed at least 78 Christians at a church in Peshawar in September 2013, claimed responsibility for the attack.The spokesman of the splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, TTP Ahmed Marwat said the attack was a reaction to Pakistani military's operation Zarb-i-Azb and Waziristan operation against insurgents. But another militant faction Jamat-ul-Ahrar, which brokeaway from the main TTP leadership in September, rubbished the claim and said they were behind the blast.
Inspector General of Border Security Force, BSF, Punjab Frontier, Ashok Kumar told AIR correspondent that the Indian side of the border is safe and BSF troops are on high alert.
BSF chief DK Pathak told PTI that there will be no beating retreat ceremony at Wagah border for 3 days from today at the request of Pakistan.
Wagah is the only road border crossing between Amritsar and the Pakistani City of Lahore. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the terror attack in Pakistan. In a tweet, Mr. Modi termed the attack as a dastardly act of terrorism and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has also expressed shock and dismay over the suicide attack at Wagah border in Pakistan and condemned the extremist elements behind such inhuman acts. A statement said, Mrs.Gandhi extended her condolences to the families of the bereaved.
Media reports say that the Research and Analysis Wing, RAW had issued warnings of an imminent suicide-attack targeting the evening flag ceremony at the Wagah border on October 15, more than two weeks before last evening’s lethal bombing on the Pakistani side. The warning reportedly came after Pakistan’s Rangers enhanced their forces and were seen erecting new defensive structures, a move which led the Border Security Force to place troops on high alert. Government sources said the BSF had observed troops from the Pakistan Rangers 11 Wing enhancing defensive posts on roads leading up to the border, and placing new barricades, during the second week of October.
