Islamabad, Aug 27 (DPA) A suicide bomber detonated explosives at a Pakistani security post on the border with Afghanistan on Thursday, killing himself and 17 others, a government official said.

The attack took place when members of tribal police known locally as the Khasadar Force gathered at the Torkham border checkpoint in the tribal district of Khyber for Iftari, a meal to break the daily fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

'The initial reports show that a suicide bomber, apparently a young man, approached on foot and blew himself up,' said Tariq Hayat Khan, the top government official in the district.

'So far 17 Khasadars have been confirmed killed while 10 more are injured,' he added.