Suicide blast: Customs clearance at Torkham Border resumes, security tightened

Initial investigation reveals the teenage bomber was not from the area.

LANDI KOTAL:

The Pak-Afghan border remained close till 2pm on Friday after a suicide blast at the Torkham Customs Clearance Office on Thursday injured around 26 people.

On Thursday at 10:55am, a militant barged into in the hall of the customs office in Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency and blew himself up. After the incident the border was shut for approximately one day.

An official of the department Amjid Khan said they had planned to observe a day of mourning.



However, by mid-Friday, a large crowd had gathered in front of the office so they decided to resume work later in the day.

Khan added security outside the office was tightened and they informed the Khyber Agency Political Administration to install metal-detecting gates to enhance security.

Requesting anonymity, a political administration official said initial investigation revealed the teenage bomber was not a local.

The boy was unable to set off the explosive vest entirely, which resulted in a low-intensity explosion; “If all the explosives had detonated, the number of casualties would have been much higher.”

Talking to journalists, Landi Kotal Assistant Political Agent Tayyab Abdullah said they increased the number of security personnel on the border, especially at the Torkham gate. They have heightened security and every individual and his luggage is being checked before being cleared, explained Abdullah.

Khasadar officials were deployed to check all vehicles along the route to avoid any untoward incident, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2013.