Karachi:
A brazen attack targeting one of the Pakistan's most well-guarded military installations last night has reportedly left 12 personnel dead and 14 others injured. The siege in Karachi's naval air station rages and has been on since last 13 hours. After a lull last night, firing resumed this morning at dawn.
The Pakistan Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, they said it was revenge for Osama bin Laden's killing.
Describing the operation against the militants, Naval spokesperson Irfan-ul-Haq said, "The operation is being planned and executed in a way that maximum safety to the naval men be maintained. And that is why the Pak naval marines are moving with caution."
"The operation is continuing with full force and
inshallah, would terminate very soon," he added.
It is not exactly clear how many terrorists are still inside the base. According to reports, some terrorists have been arrested; questioning of these terrorists may provide vital leads into the attack.
Reports suggest that between 20-25 terrorists stormed three hangars at the Pakistan Naval Station Mehran, a strategic air base of the Pakistan Navy close to the Karachi airport, late on Sunday night and targeted aircraft and equipment. The terrorists used rocket propelled grenades to damage and destroy several warplanes including two P-3C Orions - recently acquired from the United States for anti-submarine and maritime surveillance operations. (
Pictures)
Commandos of the Pakistan Navy and the elite Special Service Group (SSG) have been deployed to flush out the militants.
At least one media report said a team of American technicians were working on the aircraft at the time of the strike, but US Embassy spokesman Alberto Rodriguez said no Americans were on the base. The Dawn quoting sources has reported that the militants also took some Chinese personnel hostage in a building inside the base. (
Watch: Karachi operation will terminate very soon, says Pak Navy)
"The nation should support our forces and condemn Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda and the Taliban are against Pakistan and they're a threat to Pakistan and today nobody should have any doubt that this attack is actually an attack on Pakistan. I believe that this is an attack on Pakistan. And this is now a responsibility of every citizen of Pakistan to condemn this act and also condemn those who are supporting Al Qaeda and the Taliban and issuing statements in their favour, and praying for them. I believe that they are not Muslim and neither are they well- wishers of Pakistan," Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said condemning the attack. (
Watch)
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani reportedly spoke to the heads of all three armed forces asking them to take immediate action to control the situation. Gilani also condemned the attack, saying such a "cowardly act of terror could not deter the commitment of the government and people of Pakistan to fight terrorism."
The militants apparently entered the Naval base and hangers through the Pakistan Air Force museum, a source said. "They took advantage of the fact that people at that time were leaving for home from the PAF museum inside the Faisal base," a source said.
Dawn News channel quoted witnesses as saying that they had heard up to five blasts. Heavy firing continued for over 20 minutes after the first blast occurred, following which there were reports of intermittent firing. Hundreds of paramilitary personnel surrounded the airbase while commandos from the army's elite Special Services Group were sent in to sweep the area. Footage on television showed ambulances rushing to the airbase.
The high-security area where the attack occurred also houses the Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) Southern Air Command, Air War College and museum as well as PNS Mehran.
The fact that militants were able to enter one of the country's largest military bases is another embarrassing blow to the army and will raise questions over whether the attackers had inside information. That they targeted a US supplied aircraft draws attention to American aid to the military, something generals here do not talk about, fearing criticism from the county's fiercely anti-American population.
Sunday's raid appeared to be the most serious against the military since October 2009, when militants attacked the army headquarters close to the capital, Islamabad. They held dozens hostage in a 22-hour standoff that left 23 people dead, including nine militants.
Pakistan has faced several terror strikes over the last few years, some of them claimed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban. The Taliban had vowed to avenge Osama bin Laden's death and warned of strikes. The unilateral American raid that killed bin Laden 3 weeks ago has triggered a strong backlash against Washington, as well as rare domestic criticism against the armed forces for failing to detect or prevent the operation.