Militants attack air force base in Pakistan

The Pakistani Taliban launched a brazen assault on a military base on the outskirts of the north-western city of Peshawar early Friday, storming a mosque inside the sprawling compound and killing 16 worshippers during prayers.

The tribal badlands that lie just a short drive from Peshawar have been the scene of a major military offensive against Taliban and other militants over the past year.

He said terrorists attacked people who were vulnerable and offering prayers at a mosque. It was not immediately clear if they were military personnel or civilians.

“Terrorists entered camp at 2 points and further split in sub groups”.

Photos tweeted by Bajwa showed what appeared to be seven heavily armed militants lying dead, several of them in pools of blood. During the meeting they exchanged views on internal security situation of the country, including terrorists attack on airbase.

The air base – which is essentially a residential complex rather than an operational one – is located on the southern-most tip of Peshawar’s administrative limits.

The air base is surrounded by tribal areas.

It also exposes holes in Pakistan’s pre-emptive intelligence gathering mechanisms, mainly due to lack of co-ordination and information sharing among various security agencies.

Military spokesperson Major General Asim Bajwa said on Friday a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) splinter group had planned, executed and operated the attack on Pakistan Air Force base in Peshawar from Afghanistan. “He fought at the front of the battle today and he killed terrorists”, he said. The Pakistan Army too suffered casualties. In a firefight with security forces at least 43 people died, 14 of whom were Taliban fighters, the Pakistani military’s media wing said.

During the attack, a heavy contingent of the QRF reached the spot.

Taliban spokesman Muhammad Khorasani claimed responsibility for the attack on behalf of the militant group. He said the attackers stormed the guard room of the base, but the attack was quickly repulsed.

A red alert has been issued for all bases of Pakistan Air Force in the country’s northwestern region, officials said.

Peshawar has frequently been targeted by militants, the BBC says.

General Raheel Sharif, Pakistan’s army chief who has been lionised over his tough stance against terrorism, travelled to Peshawar to observe the clearing operation and meet injured troops.

The DG ISPR said that said the integrated and coordinated operation of the PAF, commandoes and Quick Response Force (QRF) helped foil the nefarious plan of the terrorists.

According to Inter Service public Relation (ISPR), the injured personnel are in high morale and spirits.

This is the deadliest Taliban attack on a military installation in Pakistani history. A PM House spokesman said the prime minister was personally monitoring the operation against terrorists.