(Reuters) - Their backpacks stuffed with food and ammunition, a squad of highly trained Taliban fighters attacked Pakistan’s biggest airport in what they clearly expected to be a protracted siege.
Seven fighters were shot dead by Pakistani forces after five hours of intense gunfire at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. Three died after detonating their suicide-bomb vests.
The Pakistani Taliban said they carried out the attack in response to air strikes in their strongholds near the Afghan border and suggested their mission was to hijack a passenger plane.
“The main goal of this attack was to damage the government, including by hijacking planes and destroying state installations,” said Shahidullah Shahid, a Taliban spokesman.
“This was just an example of what we are capable of and there is more to come. The government should be ready for even worse attacks.”
At least 27 people including 10 militants were killed.
In a similar well-coordinated attack in 2011, militants besieged a naval base in Karachi to avenge the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a secret U.S. special forces operation that year.
The latest assault started just before midnight on Sunday.
Wearing Airport Security Force uniforms and armed with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, the group shot its way into the airport after arriving at the cargo terminal in two mini-vans.
A senior police officer said that the militants then split into two groups, with one attacking a gate called Fokker to create a diversion and the other storming the cargo terminal.
DRIED FRUIT AND WATER
The plan was to make it to the nearby passenger terminal but their advance was disrupted by the unexpectedly strong resistance of security forces including paramilitary Rangers.
A protracted gunbattle ensued as militants took up positions around the cargo terminal. All passengers were quickly whisked away from the airport and flights were diverted as the gunbattle unfolded through the night.
“The militants were not able to achieve their target of hitting the aeroplanes as they were kept engaged by the security forces, as forces responded very quickly,” said a security source.
He said the militants were highly trained and carried large backpacks filled with dried fruit and water, suggesting they were in for a long siege.
The official said all the attackers were wearing similar running shoes - a trademark feature for Taliban insurgents. Bearded, gun-toting militants wearing camouflage and simple trainers are a common fixture of Taliban propaganda videos.
“It would have been much more disastrous if the militants had reached the main terminal building and taken hostages. There were hundreds of passengers and staff members present at the main terminal at the time,” the official said.
Two international flights, operated by Emirates and Thai Airways, were boarding passengers at the time of the attack.
Parts of the terminal were set ablaze but it was unclear if insurgents had intentionally set it on fire.
Heavy smoke billowed into the sky well into Monday when officials announced the siege was over and that the airport would resume operations at 4 p.m. (1100 GMT).
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lolx, abi toh bht stories nikleyn gi
i was reading an article, even ye k ttp ne zimmedari le li but kch log isey gawadr port n kch altaf husain n co. n kch religious extremists k sath jor rey heyn
and once again realities ko agencies hazm kr jayen gi in favor of the nation ;)
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lolx, abi toh bht stories nikleyn gi
i was reading an article, even ye k ttp ne zimmedari le li but kch log isey gawadr port n kch altaf husain n co. n kch religious extremists k sath jor rey heyn
and once again realities ko agencies hazm kr jayen gi in favor of the nation ;)
Nothing new, we as a nation revel in conspiracy theories. Pakistanis must be the only people who have a conspiracy theory for every event.
Army should not get into ambush, these attacks are being carried out so Army should retaliate, the best strategy for army should be get the intel about the Fazalullah and attack that part, no matter in Afghanistan or in Pakistan… either this attack will kill him for good or it will give him wounds he would be licking for some good time… and in meantime, his pawns shall be sent to hell from Pakistan..
Army should not get into ambush, these attacks are being carried out so Army should retaliate, the best strategy for army should be get the intel about the Fazalullah and attack that part, no matter in Afghanistan or in Pakistan... either this attack will kill him for good or it will give him wounds he would be licking for some good time... and in meantime, his pawns shall be sent to hell from Pakistan..
how would his pawns be sent to hell without retaliating?
how would his pawns be sent to hell without retaliating?
who is stopping them to retaliate, only do not go for knee-jerk reaction, because it is what TTP wants.. hit them where it hurts and if anyone speaks or support them in Pakistan, take him out as well..
By the way where is the much touted NACTA? and counter terrorism policy of this regime?
At the end of the day PMLN is ruling the country and its only natural for the people to question them, besides airports fall directly under them. They need to clarify what they want now, pursue talks or operate fully against the militants.
Last i knew, it is still IK who was pleading to Army Chief to stop the operation and IK's ally, Siraj ul Haq who is now openly asking NS to name the persons who are sabotaging Peace talks... Ch. Nisar tried his best to make talks but there was no response from opposite side...but IK and Sirah sb is the one who still want the talks to go on...
how would his pawns be sent to hell without retaliating?
Lately our intelligence guys were too busy threatening cable operators to shut a ghaddar TV channel. I hope they will find sometime now finding the operation centers of terrorist within our main cities as the TV channel is totally closed. I wish they have the same level of success they achieved terrorizing the cable operators through out the country..
for noon league instead of commenting on this attack , asking pti about banu jail, why are we always looking for point scoring, cant we leave this blame game for sometime, and unite for Pakistan just for once
Last i knew, it is still IK who was pleading to Army Chief to stop the operation and IK's ally, Siraj ul Haq who is now openly asking NS to name the persons who are sabotaging Peace talks... Ch. Nisar tried his best to make talks but there was no response from opposite side...but IK and Sirah sb is the one who still want the talks to go on...
Considering that the government is pursuing talks on Imran Khan's behest, if the talks are not working shouldn't the government decide on its own? After all its them who have the intelligence apparatus and its them who are responsible for the law and order situation in the country. They can always take the people in confidence if they want to pursue operations. Staying mum on matters like these don't solve issues.
The hope I have is that Fazlullah and talibans were kicked out of Swat when they took over and dared hoist their flag and bully the locals. Only the people in Swat know of the horrors under the Fazlullah leadership where on a radio everyone listened every day for a list of names of locals to be announced as to who was gonna die tonight.
So if the army cleaned up Swat, I have faith they'll clean up N. Waziristan. The thing is, they need support of the locals. And that's the problem. It just can't be that all the locals in Waziristan are actually supporting taliban theology. Surely they must recognize this is not Islam what they're about. And maybe that's what is needed. It's needed to show the locals that look these people aren't proposing Islam, and they're using Pakistanis for meat and fodder in their international wars. Maybe then the pathans and balochis will turn rogue and kick them out.
Lately our intelligence guys were too busy threatening cable operators to shut a ghaddar TV channel. I hope they will find sometime now finding the operation centers of terrorist within our main cities as the TV channel is totally closed. I wish they have the same level of success they achieved terrorizing the cable operators through out the country..
again correct your facts, plz switch on TV , intelligence agencies tol provincial government of risk and attack but according to CM Sindh sahib they didn't mention air port. on the other hand intelligence agencies also claimed the lack of security on foker gate and asked to increase the security but nothing happened and the terrorists attacked from the same foker.
Lately our intelligence guys were too busy threatening cable operators to shut a ghaddar TV channel. I hope they will find sometime now finding the operation centers of terrorist within our main cities as the TV channel is totally closed. I wish they have the same level of success they achieved terrorizing the cable operators through out the country..
On a bigger scheme we are still not clear who our enemies are, courtesy of good/bad Taliban.
The idea of dialogue was not a bad one. Dialogue allowed splinter groups to form that want to work with the government, so it's hurt the Taliban movement by causing division in the groups. And dialogue gave fair time for those who want to repent and give up these crimes, to switch sides. That's the real muslim way of doing things, maybe the Taliban should learn a thing or two about real Jihad if they're going to propose to wage it. You first talk, then fight. Allah will listen to those that are following His guidance. So I support the idea of negotiations for a brief period if it could help people come over to our side. And that negotiations should keep going on. Messages should keep being sent over that "switch sides, we will forgive, we are not your enemy and we want to develop your countryside.".
That dialogue should have been going on since the formation of Pakistan. Maybe with education and resources in the area, these issues would not have been happening.
for noon league instead of commenting on this attack , asking pti about banu jail, why are we always looking for point scoring, cant we leave this blame game for sometime, and unite for Pakistan just for once