Pakistani Taliban planning Wagah attack on I-Day, warns Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday issued a terror alert, warning that the Pakistani Taliban was planning to strike on the Wagah border with India around the Independence Day ceremonies of the two neighbours.

In a letter, accessed by IANS, Pakistan National Counter Terrorism Authority wrote to Punjab Home Secretary over the possible attack at the Wagah Border between August 13-15.

"Reportedly, Tehreek-e-Taliban, Fazal Ullah group is planning to target parade at Wagah border in Lahore or Ganda Singh Border in Kasur on August 13, 14 or 15," the letter stated.

It also warned that at least two suicide bombers had been dispatched to carry out the attack.

"Extreme vigilance and heightened security measures are suggested to avoid any untoward incident," the letter said.

The letter comes as Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level security meeting.

On November 2, 2014, a suicide bombing had taken place at Wagah border following the daily border ceremony in Pakistan. The attack, which led to dozens of fatalities, was claimed by three militant groups.

Pakistan has already heightened its security at sensitive places across the country following the recent terror attack in Balochistan, which left over 70 people dead, making it the deadliest this year.

Top military commanders in the country believe the terrorist threat is taking on a brutal shape due to "a growing nexus between hostile actors in the neighbourhood and facilitators within the country".

At a corps commanders` conference held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, the generals reviewed the threat perception and discussed measures for countering the security challenges.