TTP attacked PAF Camp Peshawar
Peshawar, Pakistan: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked PAF Camp Badabair area early morning of Friday in response to arrest of Kamra Airbase attack mastermind from Karachi. Involvement or sponsorship of Indian intelligence agency RAW and Afghan Intelligence agency can not be ruled out in this latest attack on installations of Pakistan Army. Terrorists entered a mosque at Fajr prayers and martyred 16 Namazi offering prayers. Mosque is adjacent to Guardroom within the premises of PAF Camp. Majority of Namazis belonged to Pakistan Army.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) took responsibility of the attack:
“We proudly claim responsibility for the attack on Pakistani air base. This base is being used by fighter jets for bombing us.”, said Taliban spokesman Muhammad Khorasani while talking to Reuters news agency.
At least eight TTP terrorists were killed in the attack while 12 soldiers were injured. Quick Response Unit of Pakistan Army repulsed the attack that was started when soldiers were performing Fajr prayer. Operation was conducted against terrorists under the command of Chief of Pakistan Air Force Suhail Aman.
TTP in past attacked all important installations of Pakistan Army including General Headquarters (GHQ) of Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi, PNS Karachi and Kamra Air Base.
Sources said that TTP coordinated attack with local terrorists and some foreign terrorists. However, details are yet to be arrived. After successful control of PAF Camp, Pakistan Army released information to media and Chief of Pakistan Army Gen. Raheel Sharif reached Peshawar to meet injured soldiers and he was also briefed at Corps Headquarters Peshawar about the attack. Search operation inside camp is continued till the filing of this report.
Law enforcing agencies raided a fort like Dera (village big home) in Islamabad Highway of capital city belonging to a very influential and strong political family right after Peshawar attack and recovered heavy weapons, vehicles and arrested several persons. Intelligence sources indicate that there were credible links of this political family with TTP. Links appeared on surface when a judge who was hearing the several murder cases against Taji Khokhar and judge was killed in Rawalpindi and TTP took the responsibility of this murder. However, the story was buried due to pressure of powerful political family and nothing was in main stream media despite of official release of TTP for taking responsibility of judge murder. Police sources are linking raid on this place with operation against terrorism.
It may be mentioned that Badabair Peshawar is known as an area where Afghans have been living since 30 years and this area has been a base camp of terrorists in past also. Pakistan Army in past found certain places in Badabair Peshawar where vehicles were prepared for suicide attacks. Badabair Peshawar is also known for sales and purchase of stolen vehicles, drugs and weapon smuggling.
Islamabad-based senior journalist Zulqarnain Haider who has been covering law enforcing agencies said that capital city of Islamabad is at high alert after Multan bomb blast and now security has been place as Red alert in Islamabad. He said raids on different places in and around Islamabad are expected in next 24 hours.
It may be mentioned that intelligence agencies of Pakistan Army arrested mastermind of PAF Kamra Airbase from Karachi on Thursday night and this latest attack could be linked to this arrest. Attack continued for over five hours.
According to initial information received by media through ISPR sources and independent sources, Quick Reaction Force (QRF) of Pakistan Army reached the spot and killed terrorists instantly however second phase of attacked continued over five hours. Entire surroundings of Cam were sealed by security forces and no one was allowed to reach the spot.
“The QRF quickly launched search operation in the surrounding areas of the camp to nab facilitators of the attack. Terrorists attacked the guard room at the camp early in the morning. The QRF reached the scene and surrounded the attackers, isolating them. Around seven to 10 terrorists had attempted to break into the camp. The terrorists had been engaged and contained around the guard room area of the camp. Six while the rest had been confined to a small area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as yet”, said ISPR in a release.
It may be mentioned that this PAF Camp is a non operational PAF has no strategic assets there but attack on this area was an indicter that terrorists do not want to stay in peace and wish to keep Pakistan Army engage anywhere there is a possibility to send a message that war against terrorism is yet not over.
Retired Gen Senator Qayyum was of the view that over 70% areas were cleaned in KPK but cross-border movement is continued and terrorists were coming from Afghanistan. When asked to comment, Senator Qayyum said to Dispatch News Desk news agency that terrorists were ruling Kunar, Nouristan and Badhakshan in Afghanistan and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership is living in Kunar.
Intelligence sources believe that this direct attack on Pakistan Army installation was planned by Indian intelligence agency RAW while there are possibilities of receiving ground support from Afghan Intelligence agency. Unofficial reports claim that terrorists first attacked mosque adjacent to Guardroom and killed those who were performing Nimaaz and almost same time second group attack the other side of Camp. Wireless sets were recovered from dead bodies of terrorists and attack was properly coordinated like of PNS Karachi and over GHQ Rawalpindi.
