At least 13 terrorists killed, 16 Namazis martyred in Badaber airbase camp attack

Lahore: Terrorists in early hours of Friday attacked residential air base camp of PAF in Peshawar, killing 16 people worshipping at a mosque, the ISPR reported.

According to DG ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa, the terrorists split in two groups as they entered the camp at two points. The Quick Response Force (QRF) immediately responded, containing the attackers within a close area.

Reportedly, a group rushed to the camp mosque, killing 16 people who were offering Fajr prayer.  At least 13 terrorists have been killed during exchange of fire.A Captain Asfand Yar Wali Bukhari and Two PAF technicians named Shan and Tariq have also embraced martyrdom in the attack.

Bajwa said operations were continuing to flush out any remaining gunmen and hailed the defenders  reaction to the attack.

He said Peshawar s Brigade Commander led the operation along with specialist “quick response” forces, army commandos and air force personnel.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan group claimed responsibility , saying their “suicide unit” carried out the attack.

A senior PAF official told AFP the facility attacked on Friday was a residential camp for air force personnel. The attackers were dressed in constabulary uniforms.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif paid a visit to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) to meet the injured. The COAS was also briefed about the situation in Corps Headquarters (HQ).

“There are no air assets including combat aircraft deployed at the base,” he said, requesting anonymity.

The army launched the “Zarb-e-Azb” operation in June 2014 in a bid to wipe out militant bases in North Waziristan tribal area and so bring an end to the bloody decade-long insurgency that has cost Pakistan thousands of lives.

Peshawar suffered the worst terror attack in Pakistani history in December when Taliban gunmen stormed an army-run school and massacred more than 150 people, most of them children.

The army intensified its offensive after the school attack and since then there has been something of a lull in violence. The last major attack in the city came in February when three heavily armed Taliban militants stormed an imambargah, killing 21 people.