Bomber strikes at Chaman border

Friendship Gate shut down after the attack; three injured in critical condition

QUETTA: A teenager was killed and nearly two dozen people were injured when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt at the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman town on Monday evening.

The bomber struck in a parking area near the Friendship Gate where commuters and drivers of Nato container trucks were waiting for verification of their documents.



Assistant Commissioner Kashif Nabi confirmed to The Express Tribune it was a suicide attack. “A pedestrian came close to a vehicle of security forces near the parking lot and blew himself up,” Nabi said, quoting eyewitnesses. “At least 22 people were injured in the blast.”

The severed legs and some other limbs of the bomber have been found at the bombsite. “Apparently, the bomber wanted to target the border guards manning the gate.”

DPO Abdul Hayee Baloch said a teenage boy was killed and more than 20 people were injured in the blast.

The casualties were ferried to the District Headquarters Hospital. “We have received 22 injured with burns and wounds caused by splinters. A 12-year-old boy succumbed to his serious injuries during treatment,” said a hospital source.



Three more critically injured men were referred to a hospital in Quetta for treatment of their life threatening wounds.

Sources said the border with Afghanistan was closed soon after the blast, with security officials saying it might remain closed for some days. A decision in this regard would be taken at a high-level meeting on Tuesday [today].

The border crossing had been closed after Friday’s consecutive blasts in Torkham area of Khyber Agency and was opened only a day ago.