By Sudhir Afridi

LANDIKOTAL: A suicide bomber blew himself up on Thursday as security personnel gathered at sunset to break their daily fast, killing at least 20 Khasadars and injuring another 10 in Torkham near the Pak-Afghan border, said hospital and official sources.

Talking to Daily Times, the sources put the death toll at 20, but the Reuters news agency reported that at least 22 personnel had been killed. The sources said that five of those injured were in critical condition.

An injured Khasadar told Daily Times that a man entered the compound where the Khasadars had gathered and blew himself up when they offered him to break the fast with them.

Troops cordoned off the area following the attack, and launched an operation to search for suspects.

The bomber targeted Khasadars from the Khyber Zakhakhel tribe, and sources said the political authorities of Torkham were tipped off about a week ago about the attack.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the suicide attack.

A suicide bomber was also recently arrested from Torkham.