Pakistan Air Force Base Attack: Commando-Style Taliban Assault Leaves 29 Security Personnel Dead

Taliban gunmen attacked the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base in the north-western city of Peshawar Friday, killing 29 security personnel.

Twenty-nine security personnel, worshipping at a mosque located inside PAF's Badaber base, were killed in the Taliban's commando style assault Friday morning, according to Dunya News. Military officials said that 23 of the dead are from the PAF, three from the army and two were civilians.

Director General of Inter Services Press Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa said that militants entered the base from the main gate and split into two groups, reported Geo TV. The Quick Response Force (QRF) immediately responded, killing 13 terrorists in an exchange of fire, he said.

"The attackers came from Afghanistan and the whole foul play was planned in the neighbouring country. This attack was being executed through direct coordination from Afghanistan as well," Bajwa told reporters Friday evening, according to ARY News. "When you're in a state of war, such attacks may occur. But the way such terror strikes are responded and retaliated should also be observed."

The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that a suicidal unit carried out the attack, as HNGN previously reported. "We sent 14 men to attack the base and eight of them entered the base from one side and six from the other side," the Taliban spokesperson said in an emailed statement

Tags

Pakistan, Peshawar, Nawaz Sharif