Adil Najam
A series of explosions and blasts have been reported in Karachi in and around various military installations, including the Mehran Naval Aviation base. Multiple explosions were reported from the PAF area near Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi. Flames from within the Air Force compound have been shown on television and reportedly some of the attackers are still inside the military compound where fighting continues.
Details remain sketchy and continue to evolve by the minute. Meanwhile, some are already calling this a “Mumbai-like” operation with choreographed multiple points of attack and mention is being made of possibly hostages being taken within a particular part of the compound.
According to Dawn:
Several explosions have been heard near the PAF Museum on Dalmia Road in Karachi. The force of the blasts have shattered the windows of surrounding buildings, reports said. Heavy gunfire was also reported after the explosion. An eyewitness said that the blasts took place near the gate of Faisal Base.
A large fire and a thick cloud of smoke has also been reported. Police have sealed the area. “We are trying to check the cause of the blast. I cannot say,” said a senior police official. Another police official said gunfire was also reported from inside the base, Reuters reported. “Several blasts were heard inside, the firing is still continuing,” Aslam Khan, a senior police officer at site told AFP.
According to The News:
Four people were killed in an armed attack Sunday by terrorists on PNS Mehran, a heavily guarded base of Pakistan Navy, located along Sharea Faisal, according to a foreign news agency. TV images showed flames rising in the air from PNS Mehran where terrorists blew up a US made P-3C Orion plane of Pakistan Navy.
Five injured in the incident were shifted to a local hospital. Additional personnel of security forces were also seen moving inside PNS Mehran. Electricity of the entire area has also been shut down. Earlier, four blasts were reported from the area near PAF base Faisal.
Ambulances and fire tenders were seen rushing toward the base following the powerful blasts that were heard across a wide radius. Gunshots fired from sophisticated weapons were also heard following the blasts. It is pertinent to mention here that in the previous weeks three buses of Pakistan Navy had been attacked by terrorists in the metropolitan city of Karachi.
@Bangash.
Can you please stop spewing hate and advancing your anti-Army propaganda for just now. Can you not see beyond your nose, man. This is not an attack on army that you are feeling so happy about, this is an attack on Pakistan. Can you not see that in your hatred?
Total failure and incompetence of Pakistan Armed Forces is on display for all Pakistanis to see. DG ISI should now resign if he has even a shred of “Ghairat”.
The army should have realized long ago that it was playing with fire. Now may be too late…
We are going to pay a price for our pathetic actions! Military after the Parliament show has gone mute once again! Its been reported that one American serviceman has been killed at Faisal base and the recently acquired Pak Navy Aircraft has been blown away! Military has to come out clean here since NRO and the subsequent idiotic plannings!
You know ever since I had noticed that all these Taliban supporters as well as other pseudo types had upped the anti-military hate propaganda. I also find many things wrong with military but on social websites and lists you suddenly saw this very very strong hatred and cruel words for military pouring out. Same time you see this new rise in attacks on military people. What a nashukri people we are that we spew hatred for those dying for us and therefore support these militants.