Bomber hits key Pakistani border crossing; 19 dead

Pakistan's lawless border with Afghanistan is a main front in the battle against al-Qaida and the Taliban, who are destabilizing both countries. Under heavy U.S. pressure, the Pakistani military has launched ground offensives and air attacks on the insurgents in recent months, but much of the region remains under militant control.

The suicide attacker walked up to a group of border guards outside their barracks at the Torkham checkpoint in the Khyber region and detonated his explosives, local police officer Sadiq Khan said. The victims were breaking their daylong fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The border had closed for the day a few hours earlier.