Pakistani was driving world's largest truck bomb near Af-Pak border: Report

Truck bomb intercepted by Afghan security forces; driver killed himself by detonating a suicide vest.


Web Desk November 14, 2013
ISAF soldiers in Afghanistan PHOTO: AFP/FILE

A massive vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), also known as a truck bomb, was intercepted by Afghan security forces near the Pakistan-Afghan border in October, reported ABC News on Wednesday.

The truck driver was allegedly a Pakistani and he set off a grenade in the cab of the truck. When later taken to a hospital, he detonated a suicide vest, killing himself, stated Afghan sources.

The truck bomb was loaded with 61,500 pounds of explosives. In comparison, the truck bomb used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing - in which 168 people were killed - made use of 5,000 pounds of explosives.

The bomb, discovered in Afghanistan on October 14, is "larger in comparison to some others we have seen," said Army Colonel Christopher Garver, a spokesperson for the US-led International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) Joint Command in Kabul, to ABC News.

Another source from the Defence Department stated it was the largest truck bomb ever known to be built.

Some analysts are skeptical about the estimated weight of the explosives, but still acknowledge that the bomb, also known as the Gardez VBIED, is extraordinarily large.

COMMENTS (69)

VINOD | 10 years ago | Reply

@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: Dear Ghazi Saheb thanks for joining the issue with me. I wonder why do you keep insisting to demonstrate your laughable knowledge on this board. When you say " By far the vast majority of the figures in the Pakistani consciousness are those who struggled for the freedom, security, and safety of our people, usually against British, Hindu, and Sikh occupation and oppression, along with those who established just Islamic rule for our people." I wonder who struggled from your people and who are your people. And if you mean Muslims then please be aware that more Muslims have chosen to live in India than the total number of Muslims in Pakistan; and Ghazi Saheb they are not your people and non of them would like to reallocate to Pakistan. I wonder if you have heard the name of Bulle Shah and thousands of peers who roamed in your land and spread only one message that is of love and God is pure LOVE. So kindly stop spreading hatred and also in the name of your " just Islamic rule for our people." stop killing people and before saying "security, and safety of our people," be aware how safe are your people.

Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan | 10 years ago | Reply

@VINOD: None of those people which you listed were from the lands of modern Pakistan, therefore those names have very little impact on Pakistanis in specific, and also Indian Muslims as they are all Non-Muslims (although Guru Nanak's religion is debatable).

By far the vast majority of the figures in the Pakistani consciousness are those who struggled for the freedom, security, and safety of our people, usually against British, Hindu, and Sikh occupation and oppression, along with those who established just Islamic rule for our people.

@Kamran: I too believe that the comments section is being run by an Indian. That would explain why most of my comments in support of Islam and Pakistan are censored.

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