The Indian Armed Forces, stationed in the north-western part of the country, were put on high alert following the suicide blast at Wagah border in Pakistan at around 6:15pm (local time) on Sunday. The attack claimed 61 lives and left more than 118 seriously injured.
At least 61 people, including some children and security personnel, were killed when the suicide attack rocked the Pakistani side of the border on Sunday evening. According to the Pakistani authorities, an unidentified terrorist launched the attack immediately after the conclusion of the flag-lowering ceremony at the Indo-Pak border. Later, the al-Qaeda affiliated ‘Jandullah’ group claimed responsibility for the attack. Inspector General (IG) of Pakistan’s Punjab Police Mushtaq Sukhera said that the suicide attacker approached the gate when the crowd was leaving the parade area after witnessing the flag-lowering ceremony.
According to the IG, the attacker did not allow the Pakistani Rangers to respond. He added that the Rangers cordoned off the site immediately after the attack and sent the injured persons to local hospitals. The local media reported that emergency was declared at almost all the hospitals in Lahore. Sukhera told reporters that the blast also destroyed nearby shops and buildings. According to him, huge crowds gather every evening at the Wagah crossing to watch the ‘lowering of the flags’ ceremony and the energetic display of military pageantry that accompanies the formal closing of the border post. Soldiers of the two neighbouring countries have conducted pageantry for decades. Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and called for a report on the incident. He also urged people to help the local administration maintain peace.
Neighboring India, too, condemned the attack. The Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that as Wagah is the only road border crossing between northern Indian city of Amritsar and the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, the attack in the parking area of the border proves that India is also not safe. India tightened its security after the blast rocked the border. In Jammu, IG of India’s Border Security Force Ashok Kumar told the press: “Our side is safe. We are alert and have increased our security. We are in constant touch with district officials and provincial police.”
At least 61 people, including some children and security personnel, were killed when the suicide attack rocked the Pakistani side of the border on Sunday evening. According to the Pakistani authorities, an unidentified terrorist launched the attack immediately after the conclusion of the flag-lowering ceremony at the Indo-Pak border. Later, the al-Qaeda affiliated ‘Jandullah’ group claimed responsibility for the attack. Inspector General (IG) of Pakistan’s Punjab Police Mushtaq Sukhera said that the suicide attacker approached the gate when the crowd was leaving the parade area after witnessing the flag-lowering ceremony. According to the IG, the attacker did not allow the Pakistani Rangers to respond. He added that the Rangers cordoned off the site immediately after the attack and sent the injured persons to local hospitals. The local media reported that emergency was declared at almost all the hospitals in Lahore. Sukhera told reporters that the blast also destroyed nearby shops and buildings. According to him, huge crowds gather every evening at the Wagah crossing to watch the ‘lowering of the flags’ ceremony and the energetic display of military pageantry that accompanies the formal closing of the border post. Soldiers of the two neighbouring countries have conducted pageantry for decades. Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and called for a report on the incident. He also urged people to help the local administration maintain peace.
Neighboring India, too, condemned the attack. The Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that as Wagah is the only road border crossing between northern Indian city of Amritsar and the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, the attack in the parking area of the border proves that India is also not safe. India tightened its security after the blast rocked the border. In Jammu, IG of India’s Border Security Force Ashok Kumar told the press: “Our side is safe. We are alert and have increased our security. We are in constant touch with district officials and provincial police.”
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