ATTACK ON NAVAL AIR BASE IN KARACHI
KARACHI: An unidentified number of terrorists, believed to be around 15, armed with rocket-launchers and hand-grenades, attacked the PNS Mehran Air Base, located on Sharea Faisal, late on Sunday night, killing at least two naval officials and injuring as many besides destroying a US made maritime partrol Orion aircraft on the premises. Later reports claimed that the casualties had risen to five dead and nine injured while a second Orion aircraft was also reportedly damaged.
Numerous explosions and gunshots were heard as the attackers continued to fight with the troops at the Mehran Naval Aviation base till the filing of the report.
Sources said that the terrorists, who could be from al-Qaeda, entered the air base from the Malir River side and launched an attack on the Mehran Air Base, which is adjacent to the PAF Base Faisal. Pakistan Naval Station Mehran is in fact the -- headquarters of the Pakistan Navy’s air arm. Commissioned on September 26, 1975, the Mehran Air Base now houses more than 25 aircraft and helicopters.
The huge explosions and firing sent a wave of panic and shock in the area.
The PAF Base Faisal and PNS Mehran were cordoned off by the Rangers and Army. Commandos from the Army and Navy, backed by Rangers, launched an operation against the terrorists.
It was reported that firefights were going on at several places simulataneously. The officials had switched off all the lights as they took on the heavily-armed terrorists.
Soon after the attack was launched by terrorists, large explosions rocked the base and the surrounding areas. The intensity of the explosions was such that they were heard far and wide, including in large parts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Dalmia.
One such explosion destroyed a P-3 Orion aircraft, which the navy had recently acquired from the United States. It was feared that a second aircraft was also subsequently lost. Eyewitnesses said black smoke billowed from several points at the base.
Sources said that terrorists used heavy weapons besides hand-grenades and rocket launchers to strike at -- the aircraft and other installations.
Naval officials confirmed that during the firefight, two officials, Lt Yasir Abbas and Fireman Khalilur Rehman, who were shifted to the PN Shifa in injured condition, had died. Subsequent reports put the number of dead at five and injured at nine. The dead included firemen Javed Iqbal and Javed Ahmed and Rangers official Khalil Ahmed. There were also nine injured, most of them from the Army and Rangers. The injured have been shifted to the PNS Shifa and PNS Rahat. Many of the terrorists were also reportedly killed and injured. Unofficial reports said that at least one of the injured terrorists was captured alive.
The entrance of the PAF Museum became the main battle point at the time of filing of the report as more explosions and gunshots were heard from the scene. The main Sharea Faisal was blocked and traffic was divereted to alternative routes. However, a large number of journalists had assembled in front of entrance to the PAF Museum -- and were constantly reporting from the site.
There were also unconfirmed reports that the terrorists had held several officials hostage at a building at PNS Mehran where they were holed. However, naval officials denied the report. They also refuted reports that there were any foreigners held hostage or injured inside the base.
Panicky residents of the nearby PAF Falcon Complex closed their doors and windows on reports of the attack.
Sources said Pakistan had received seven Lockheed P-3C Orion. Two upgraded P-3C Orion were delivered on 7th January, 2010 while one was delivered in Nov 2009. Another two advanced P-3C Orion aircraft are to be delivered soon .
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani remained in touch with all the services chiefs to inquire about the details of the terrorist attack on the PNS Mehran and directed concerned authorities to take all -- measures to protect the lives of officials and public property.
The prime minister also talked to Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Khalid Shameem Wynne and asked him to ensure coordinated action against the terrorists. Prime Minister Gilani also talked to Interior Minister Rehman Malik to get updates on new developments. He asked Malik to immediately reach Karachi and coordinate the -- security efforts being taken by civil and military officials.
Agencies add: Naval sources said a P3C Orion aircraft was the target of the terrorists. “No one knows how the terrorists got into the facility since they did not cross any of the check posts,” said a naval source.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik confirmed the attack. He said terrorists had launched an armed attack on PNS Mehran.
TV images showed smoke billowing from the naval base. Earlier, four blasts were reported from the area near the PAF Base Faisal. Ambulances and fire tenders were seen rushing to the site of the attack.
Al Qaeda-linked Taliban militants, who have vowed to avenge the killing of Osama bin Laden by US special forces, have carried out several attacks since his death on May 2.
“They were equipped with sophisticated weapons,” navy spokesman Commodore Irfan ul-Haq told Reuters. Another spokesman said that one P-3C Orion, a maritime partrol aircraft, had been destroyed. “The attackers are still inside and intermittent firing is continuing.”
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the militants had attacked from the rear of the base. “We have been able to confine them to one building and an operation is underway either to kill or capture them.
Officials said the gunmen had attacked three hangars housing aircraft. Nine explosions were reported from the base, with jet fuel tanks possibly catching fire and exploding. Almost three hours after the start of the attack, gunbattles between militants and commandos continued. A least a dozen ambulances were parked outside the base,waiting to take wounded to hospital. Pakistani military andparamilitary reinforcements were pouring in, with four vehicles carrying about 10 troops each moving into the base.
