Taliban attack: Pakistani forces clear airport, airbase after 3-hour operation

Pakistani security forces cleared Peshawar Airport and adjacent air force base after three hours operation against the armed Taliban militants, who launched an overnight attack on the facilities with rockets, officials said Sunday.

The Pakistan Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Tariq Mahmood said that five attackers were killed and the security forces are now in full control of both facilities.

Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the late Saturday attack.

A Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told the media on phone that the PAF base was the target.

However, the PAF spokesman said no security man was killed or injured in the attack as the attackers could not enter the airport and airbase.

Hospital sources said that five civilians were killed and 40 injured in the attack.

Giving details of the attack, the PAF spokesman said that the terrorists attacked PAF Base Peshawar at 2035 hrs, on 15 December, from a nearby Abdra village side.

“Terrorists used rockets and suicide bombers to penetrate the base parameters at three different places and caused minor damage to outer perimeter boundary wall,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

Security forces consisting of Pakistan Air Force and Army personnel, who were on full alert, cordoned of the Base and effectively repulsed the attack, the spokesman said.

Tariq Mahmood said terrorists used two vehicles laden with explosives, hand grenades, RPGs and automatic weapons, adding that one vehicle was destroyed and the second was badly damaged.

“Three suicide jackets were found near one of the vehicles. During the attack five terrorists got killed.” He said there was no damage to PAF equipment and personnel. Police effectively supported the operation at the external perimeter of the air filed.

“Coordinated joint operations by all security agencies thwarted the attack successfully”.

He said the combing operation which started at 11 p.m. continued till Base was declared clear by 2 a.m.

The spokesman said the Base is in total control and normal operations have resumed.

The security alert was also raised on other PAF Air Bases as well.

Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff appreciated security forces for their high morale and successful conduct of operations.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 16 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.