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.
The last real operations conducted by Pakistan Army was in 2009 in Swat/South Waziristan. Then Gen Kayani said army needed “rest” so these terrorists have had 2 years to reorganize and relaunch their murderous campaign.
Wonder if Pak Army will also ask for rest in war against India.
Interior minister says that we can not put intelligence people everywhere then why the heck is he at the post. Shameless creatures! Armed forces and intelligence [ top brass] are only good for conquering there own people & country, can not stand in front of enemies.
Allah protect our country.
@Madad
as u say boss
Hasbun-Army wa Ni’m-al-Wakil. Ni’m-al-General wa Ni’m-al-Kiyani
This attack is scary it means the terrorist are well armed , well motivated, meticulous planners and have to some degree infiltrated our armed forces.The can attack anywhere and anytime at will. And our intelligence and security apparatus can only respond after the damage is done. The Americans cant seem to stop them in Afghanistan and we arent able in Pakistan.
Attacks have been common place in KP & tribal areas since last few year on soft civilian targets which hasnt bothered our establishment much. But now it seems this fight is spilling over into other Urban & Military centers of Pakistan. Artillary shelling and drone strikes in tribal areas have been utterly counter productive. We have lost any chance of organizing a intelligence network to counter the terrorist,or to contain them to one area.(Not that is evident our ISI could actually organize one). A change of strategy is required, at least $36 million dollars of assets went up in smoke by a $30 RPG this is unsustainable.
What if they attack a nuclear installation next, or HMC, or the GHQ again.If I were working for RAW I would ask my ambassador in kabul to get in touch with these guys and give them list of targets, detonators and a few million dollars. Do we have any idea what the Americans have got us into?????
This would have never happened if we had ordered more Air Conditioned Pink Prados and Land Cruisers for our Armed Officers.