Kamra Airbase Attack: Militants Storm Kamra Airbase
ATTOCK:
Unknown militants launched an armed attack on Kamra airbase in the wee
hours of Thursday where fierce gun-battle is underway while blasts are
also being heard intermittently at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
facility, Geo News reported.
There is a report of loss of life from both sides in the incident but it still remains unfonfirmed.
According
to Geo News correspondent, Saleh Zafir the army has been called out
while the Pak army’s 111-brigade has already made it to the site of the
incident to take part in the operation.
Sources told Geo News that the militants stormed the base from Pind Salman Makhan at 2:30 AM Thursday.
The sound
of loud blasts at the base suggests that the militants are making use of
the hand grenades they had on them as they made their way into the
facility.
Sources
also said that the security forces have managed to stop further
advancement of the assailants into the base and presently an armed
encounter between the two sides is underway.
The
possible aim of the attack could be to cause damage to the parked
aircraft of Pakistan Air Force or to hold the personnel present at the
base hostage.
The attack
is similar to that of Karachi Naval Base, PNS Mehran which took place
on May 22, 2011. The militants had killed several Naval personnel
besides destroying two P-3C Orion aircraft.
Kamra is
an airbase where assembling of JF-17 is carried out. Normally, more than
30 aircraft remain parked at the base at a time.
The sources further said the militants failed to reach the aircraft due to prompt action of the security forces.
The security sources has confirmed killing of five to six militants after fierce clash with SSG commandos.
Adnan Rasheed suspected in Kamra attack
ISLAMABAD:
Ministry of Interior has suspected the involvement of dangerous Taliban
terrorist Adnan Rasheed in Kamra air base attack that left nine
terrorists and a security official dead Thursday, Geo News reported.
According
to the report, a brazen attack on the Bannu prison was carried out in
April to free convicted terrorist Adnan Rasheed, along with 400 other
prison inmates after which it was advised to beef up the security of
military installations and VIPs.
The report
had also elucidated that Adnan Rasheed was an ex-PAF employee and had
information about the air bases and highly sensitive installations.
Security
has been tightened after the militants stormed Kamra air base early
today as heavy contingents of security forces have been deployed at all
entry and exit points of the airport.
The airport sources also told that the security forces have been equipped with latest weapons to counter any untoward incident.
Militants
dressed in uniforms and armed with guns and rocket launchers stormed PAF
base Kamra, sparking heavy clashes that left nine militants and a
security official dead while a plane was also damaged.
The base commander, who led the counter-attack, was also injured in the battle.
The attack
comes amid speculation that Pakistan could launch an operation against
militants in the tribal district of North Waziristan.
The Air
Force said the attackers with rocket propelled-grenades and suicide
vests attacked the base, home to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex that
assembles Mirage and JF-17 fighter jets, at 2:00 am today.
The security forces completed the operation after hours of attack while all the dead attackers were identified as foreigners.
There was
no immediate claim of responsibility but the Pakistani Taliban have
targeted a string of military bases since rising up against the
government in July 2007.via: thenews.com.pk
