Security forces foil terrorist attack on Mianwali training base of PAF

Nine terrorists were killed on Saturday after the Pakistani troops thwarted their attack on Mianwali Training Air Base of Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Aaj News reported.

"On 4th November 2023, in the early hours of the day, Mianwali Training Air Base of Pakistan Air Force came under a failed terrorist attack which, Alhumdolliah, due to the swift and effective response by the troops, has been foiled and thwarted, ensuring the safety and security of personnel and assets," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement issued earlier in the morning.

The ISPR said that three terrorists were neutralised, even before they could enter the base while remaining 3 terrorists "have been cornered/isolated due to timely and effective response by the troops".

During the attack, some damage to three already grounded aircraft and a fuel bowser occurred, the statement read.

The military’s media affairs wing added that a comprehensive joint clearance and combing operation is in final stages to completely clear the area.

"Pakistan Armed Forces remain committed to eliminating menace of terrorism from the country at all costs."

In an afternoon update, ISPR said that the combing and clearance operation at PAF base was concluded and "all nine terrorists have been sent to hell".

The Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a newly emerged militant group that is an affiliate of the home-grown Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) movement claimed responsibility in a statement to media, as per Reuters.

In a post, Caretaker PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that the valiant PAF has once again proven its mettle by thwarting the cowardly terrorist attack.

"Any attempt to undermine our security will meet with unwavering resistance. The nation stands with you and we salute your courage and resolve," he said.

Former PM Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack, saying that the “repeated attacks reveal our enemies’ desperation”.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces as well for “risking their lives and foiling the terrorists’ plans”.

The recent attack comes a day after at least 17 soldiers were martyred in different incidents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

At least 14 soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack on two vehicles of security forces in Gwadar District, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

The attack occurred when the forces were moving from Pasni to Ormara.

Moreover, five people were killed and at least 24 injured, including police officials after bomb exploded close to the route of a police patrol in Dera Ismail Khan on Friday.

The same day, security forces also conducted two intelligence-based operations in which two soldiers were martyred.

In the first operation in Dera Ismail Khan’s Rori area, soldiers killed a suicide bomber and injured two others.

In the second operation, in KPK’s Lakki Marwat district, a militant was killed and several hideouts were destroyed by troops.