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| Pakistan blast 'kills 50' at Wagah border with India | Pakistan blast 'kills 50' at Wagah border with India |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 50 people have been killed and more than 70 injured in a suicide bombing close to Pakistan's only border crossing with India. | At least 50 people have been killed and more than 70 injured in a suicide bombing close to Pakistan's only border crossing with India. |
| The blast hit near the checkpoint at the Wagah border crossing, near Lahore. | The blast hit near the checkpoint at the Wagah border crossing, near Lahore. |
| A militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban said it carried out the attack. | A militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban said it carried out the attack. |
| Jundullah said the blast was in response to the Pakistani military's offensive against militants in tribal regions bordering Afghanistan. | |
| Officials said the dead included three members of the border force. At least 15 of those injured were seriously wounded. | Officials said the dead included three members of the border force. At least 15 of those injured were seriously wounded. |
| Scattered bodies | Scattered bodies |
| The Wagah crossing is a high-profile target, with large crowds gathering every day to watch an elaborate flag-lowering ceremony as the border closes. | The Wagah crossing is a high-profile target, with large crowds gathering every day to watch an elaborate flag-lowering ceremony as the border closes. |
| Mushtaq Sukhera, the Punjab police chief, told the Reuters news agency that the blast happened when a suicide attacker approached a restaurant after the day's ceremony. | Mushtaq Sukhera, the Punjab police chief, told the Reuters news agency that the blast happened when a suicide attacker approached a restaurant after the day's ceremony. |
| One witness, an intelligence official, said he was sitting in his office when he heard the blast. | One witness, an intelligence official, said he was sitting in his office when he heard the blast. |
| "I rushed to the scene and saw scattered bodies, injured men, women and children and smashed cars," the official told Reuters. | "I rushed to the scene and saw scattered bodies, injured men, women and children and smashed cars," the official told Reuters. |
| Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan described the blast as an "act of terror". | Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan described the blast as an "act of terror". |
| "Shocked and saddened by suicide attack nr Wagah border," the former international cricketer tweeted. | "Shocked and saddened by suicide attack nr Wagah border," the former international cricketer tweeted. |
| Meanwhile Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as a "dastardly act of terrorism". | |
| India has in the past accused Pakistan of sponsoring jihadi groups in the region. | |
| The two countries, which have fought three wars against each other, have been engaged in a long-running conflict over the region of Kashmir, which both sides claim. | |
| An Indian security official said the Indian side of the border was not affected by the explosion, Reuters reported. | An Indian security official said the Indian side of the border was not affected by the explosion, Reuters reported. |
| Dozens of people use the Wagah crossing to enter India and Pakistan every day, says the BBC's Shumaila Jaffrey in Lahore, as it is the only road crossing between the two countries. | Dozens of people use the Wagah crossing to enter India and Pakistan every day, says the BBC's Shumaila Jaffrey in Lahore, as it is the only road crossing between the two countries. |
| It is also a crucial trade facility, where truck-loads of goods coming from and going to India are loaded and unloaded. | It is also a crucial trade facility, where truck-loads of goods coming from and going to India are loaded and unloaded. |
| A large number of people attend the border parade on Sundays, our reporter adds. | A large number of people attend the border parade on Sundays, our reporter adds. |
| Pakistan's government has been engaged in a long-running conflict with the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP. | |
| The TTP announced a month-long ceasefire in March aimed at reviving peace talks with the government. But after the ceasefire ended in April the Pakistani army launched an offensive in the group's heartland in North Waziristan. | The TTP announced a month-long ceasefire in March aimed at reviving peace talks with the government. But after the ceasefire ended in April the Pakistani army launched an offensive in the group's heartland in North Waziristan. |