Many first believed that the powerful blast on the Wagah border on Sunday occurred on the Indian side and not inside Pakistan.
Amritsar-based businessman Ranbir Singh, whose relatives had returned after witnessing the flag-lowering ceremony on the border, said the blast caused a scare among the spectators of the event near the gates of the border and the ceremonially dressed Border Security Force jawans.
He said that while the BSF was swift to react and evacuate the area, the authorities ensured that panic did not lead to a stampede on the Indian side.
Sonu, whose family runs a kiosk called ‘Mitran da Dhaba’ near the BSF post, said everyone initially believed the attack was within the Indian side of the border.
He said there were rumours that some Pakistan-based terrorists, especially those aligned with al-Qaeda, may carry out an attack during the flag-lowering ceremony or that, as in the Jammu sector recently, Pakistan Rangers might initiate some firing.
He recalled that a few years ago, a rocket attack from the Pakistan side had rattled Attari village and some BSF posts.
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