Gunmen attack Pakistan air force base in Peshawar, 17 killed

Pakistani authorities on Saturday arrested 28 suspects, including eight Afghans, a day after the deadly Taliban attack on an air force base near here that killed 42 people.

“All those killed in the bombing were Pakistani militants”, said one security official in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

The search operations continue to apprehend the culprits involved in yesterday’s terrorist attack on the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Camp in Badaber area of Peshawar.

The attackers – armed with suicide vests, automatic assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades – were engaged by camp guards for 10 minutes before the Quick Response Force (QRF) arrived and engaged them.

The third group approached the mosque and sprayed worshippers with bullets during the morning “Fajar” prayers, killing at least 16 people. One group tried to go to the Administration Block while the other attempted to reach the residential area but were challenged by the security personnel.

Soldiers are combing through the facility looking for any remaining attackers. Most of those killed were air force personnel. He said Sharif will visit a military hospital where doctors were treating soldiers wounded in the attack. Some of the attackers took to killing unarmed PAF officials gathered in the mosque for morning prayers.

The Pakistani Taliban, referred to in the nation as Tehrik-i-Taliban, asserted obligation regarding the assault.

Fayaz Hussain Chaudhry, father of slain army Capt. Asfand Yar, told the Dunya TV station that his son gave his life for his country.

Intercepted communications indicated that the attackers were being handled by superiors in Afghanistan, he said, but would not elaborate further because Pakistan’s spy agency was investigating the evidence.

Islamabad and Kabul regularly accuse each other of supporting militants who cross the porous border to carry out attacks and of giving sanctuary to them. He added that the Taliban “targeted” 50 security forces, without explaining what that meant.

Television pictures showed helicopters hovering above the base while police and ambulances gathered outside. Residents said they heard explosions and gunfire soon after the terror attack was mounted.

“Our suicidal unit carried out the attack”, TTP spokesman Muhammad Khurasani said in an email statement.

It is pertinent to mention here at least 29 people were martyred and 13 terrorists were killed following a brazen attack on PAF camp at Badaber area on Friday.