Canadians flock to Parliament Hill, site of attack on soldier

 

(Reuters) - Canadians returned to the reopened grounds of their parliament building on Saturday, three days after a homegrown radical rushed in armed with a rifle after killing a soldier in the second domestic attack in a week on the country's military.
The grounds of the hilltop gothic building, whose clock tower is a centerpiece of Ottawa's skyline, attracted scores of visitors, many still stunned by Wednesday's attack, which took place as Prime Minister Stephen Harper was meeting with lawmakers.
The attacks on Monday and Wednesday were the work of Canadian citizens, reportedly recent converts to Islam, who appear to have operated independently, police said.
The first victim, 53-year-old Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, died when a man ran him over with a car in Quebec, while the second, 24-year-old Corporal Nathan Cirillo, was gunned down while standing a ceremonial watch at a monument to Canada's war dead near Parliament Hill.
Police presence was light at the grounds, which had been closed to the public since Wednesday. The parliament building itself remained closed, but House Speaker Andrew Scheer said it would reopen for tours and visits on Monday.
"The very fact of us being here on this spot means they did not win," said 41-year-old Toronto teacher Franco Ferrari.
He said he had brought his son and his sons friends to Ottawa on Thursday night.
"I wanted them to see this," Ferrari said. "I wanted to show them that we will not be bullied."
The attackers, 32-year-old gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, described as troubled and drug-addicted, and 25-year-old Martin Rouleau, who drove over two soldiers, one of whom survived, both developed their radical views in Canada, police said.
Both men were shot and killed by security officers.
The attacks came as Canada deployed additional planes to the Middle East to take part in a campaign of air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq.
Canadian officials vowed on Friday to toughen laws against terrorism, but critics warned against moves that would curtail civil liberties in a country that prides itself on its openness.
The attacks appeared to provoke vandalism at a mosque in Cold Lake, Alberta, more than 3,000 kilometers (1860 miles) west of Ottawa. Windows on a mosque were found smashed on Friday, with the words "Go home" spray-painted on the building.
Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau on Saturday condemned the incident.
"The vandals who carried out these acts are criminals and cowards," Trudeau said, "and their actions run counter to basic Canadian values."
A crowd of several dozen people assembled in downtown Montreal on Saturday for an impromptu memorial to Cirillo and Vincent, leaving flowers and signing memorial books that had been left in tribute to the slain soldiers.
"What happened this week with the murder of those two military is a turning point in our history," said Louise Beaudry, the 65-year-owner of a translation agency, who attended the Montreal event. "We need to revise the way the security is organized for everybody in the country ... We need to be realistic."
(Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson and Lisa Von Ahn) 

Now ISIS threatens to kill British jihadis who want to return home: At least 30 Britons planning to flee Syria after young Muslim from Portsmouth is killed fighting for terror group

British jihadi fighters who want to come home from Syria and Iraq are being given death threats by senior ISIS members, it has emerged.

A source with contacts among Syrian rebel groups claimed that he knew of more than 30 Britons who had become linked to the terrorists but now wanted to return to the UK.

Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg said that any jihadis who wanted to quit the terror group 'could be subject to disciplinary measures which could include threats of death or death'. 

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Mehdi Hassan, 19, (pictured) who attended a private Catholic school in Hampshire, travelled to Syria to fight for ISIS with four others from Portsmouth in October last year. He died in the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani

Speaking to the Observer, Begg explained that many of the Britons who wanted to return had originally travelled to join rebels fighting the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad and had only later become linked with ISIS.

But now the terror group refuses to allow their British members to leave.

He added that a number of Britons in Syria were currently 'stuck between a rock and a hard place'.

The revelation comes after it emerged that a former Portsmouth schoolboy who died while fighting for ISIS tried to escape Syria but was captured only minutes away from meeting his mother across the Turkish border.

The family of Mehdi Hassan, 19, who attended a private Catholic school in Hampshire, confirmed today that he died in the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani after a picture of his body emerged on Twitter.

Hassan, who also used the alias Abu Dujana, had expressed plans to return to Britain over the last few months but had been scared about the repercussions and the threat of prosecution on terror charges, his family said. 

Hassan became one of the youngest people to join the group of British jihadists in Syria after travelling to the Middle East in October last year.

But following phone contact with his mother, who he discovered had travelled to Turkey to establish his whereabouts, Hassan attempted to escape from the extremist group he had once been a part of.

His attempt to flee occurred when he was recuperating in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa following treatment for a wound he sustained in battle.

Sensing his opportunity, Hassan attempted to escape without a passport, trying to reach the Turkish border town of Urfa.

He was so close to escaping, he phoned his mum and told her he could even see Urfa.

But he was caught just eight minutes away from the border and was imprisoned by ISIS for four days.

Without a passport, Hassan did not try to escape again, returning to fight for the jihadists before he was killed in Kobani.

Although it's unclear exactly why Hassan did not have his passport, ISIS is known to encourage its recruits to burn their passports upon swearing allegiance to the caliphate.

The act is considered a test of loyalty and a symbol of their fighters' desire to sever all ties to their home nation.

His family confirmed his death this morning and issued a statement to ITV which said: 'We can confirm that this is indeed Mehdi Hassan. We request that the family be left to grieve.

'Mehdi was a loving boy with a good heart wishing to help Syrians.

'In recent months he had expressed the intention to return home but was worried about the repercussions.

'This is a tragedy and a lesson.'

Hassan, 19, attended St John's College, a Catholic school in Portsmouth, which charges £10,000 a year for day pupils. He travelled to Syria in October 2013

Hassan had been planning to study international politics at Surrey University in September last year but travelled to Syria to fight with four other young men prior to the start of his course.

He previously attended St John's College, a Catholic school in Portsmouth, which charges £10,000 a year for day pupils and more than double for boarders.

He was active on Twitter, using his alias Abu Dujana, and regularly posted messages from Syria.

His last post, sent just days before his death, said: 'Between 20-40 us strikes daily in ayn al arab. Alhamdulillah they are spending $10's of billions...against themselves.' (sic) 

He reportedly used to call his family in Britain 'once every couple of months,' keeping them updated on conditions in Syria.

He initially told his family that he was going to stay in Syria for just three weeks before he extended his stay for a further three months. He phoned his mother and told her to withdraw his place from Surrey University, declaring he would be staying in Syria.

His death comes just days after it was confirmed another member of the jihadist group he travelled to Syria with had also been killed while fighting.

Mamunur Roshid, 24, who joined Hassan, Ifthekar Jaman, 23, Primark worker Muhammad Hamidur Rahman, 25, and Assad Uzzaman, 25, in pretending to go on holiday to Turkey before crossing into Syria, died earlier this week.

CCTV showed the gang-of-five breezing through London's Gatwick Airport and looking like tourists setting off on a fortnight's holiday to Turkey.

In reality, the smiling Britons captured on CCTV were heading to Syria to fight their so-called 'holy war'. 

The fanatics, who called themselves the Britani Brigade Bangladeshi Bad Boys, were all from Portsmouth, and had been seduced by glamorous tales of martyrdom to join Islamic State (ISIS) in establishing a Muslim caliphate in the Middle East.

Hassan, Roshid, Rahman and Jaman have all since died while fighting in Syria.

The Foreign Office said today it had not yet received any reports about Mr Hassan's death but was 'aware of reports about the death of a British national in Syria'.

A spokesman added: 'The UK has advised for some time against all travel to Syria, where all UK consular services are suspended. 

'As we do not have any representation in Syria, it is extremely difficult to get any confirmation of deaths or injuries and our options for supporting British nationals there are extremely limited.'

Abdul Jalil, chairman of the Portsmouth Jami Mosque which Hassan attended, told the BBC: 'It has been confirmed with the family that he has died. Right now they are very upset.

'I am saddened and again shocked for the community about this news.' 

Hassan was one of five friends from Portsmouth who pretended to go on holiday to Turkey but instead went to fight for Islamic State in Syria. The group were caught on CCTV at London's Gatwick Airport last year (pictured)

In his last tweet, posted on October 17 under his alias 'Abu Dujana', Hassan told of 20-40 daily U.S. airstrikes

CCTV: Portsmouth jihadists boarding flight to Turkey

Speaking after Roshid's death on Tuesday, Mr Jalil said: 'We are very worried about this. The imam will speak about this at the mosque on Friday, telling people not to go to Syria.

'We are doing everything we can, we are speaking with the council, the crime prevention team. We are handing out leaflets about what is happening there.'

A total of ten young extremists from Portsmouth are believed to have left the south coast city for Syria and ISIS. 

Earlier this week, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe warned that at least five Britons were joining ISIS every week.

He said: 'We know that over 500 British nationals travelled to join the conflict. Many have returned and many will wish to do so in the coming months and perhaps in future years.

'We still have an average of five people joining them a week. Five a week doesn't sound much but when you realise there are 50 weeks in a year, 250 more would be 50 per cent more than we think have gone already.

'Those numbers are a minimum. Those are the ones that we believe have gone. There may be many more who set out to travel to another country and meandered over to Syria and Iraq in a way that is not always possible to spot when you have failed states and leaky borders.'

Earlier this month, four people were arrested for terrorism offences after the former home of Jaman, the ringleader of the Portsmouth group of five of which Hassan belonged, was raided.

Jaman's mother and father, Enu Miah, 57, and Hena Choudhury, 48, were arrested and bailed, and his two brothers Tuhim, 26, and Mustakim, 23, were also arrested along with sister Tamannah Shaharin, 29. 

Hassan attended St John's College, a Catholic school in Portsmouth, which charges £10,000 a year for pupils

The British jihadists who fled for Syria regularly attended the Jami Mosque in Portsmouth (pictured)

THE OTHER JIHADISTS WHO LEFT PORTSMOUTH TO FIGHT FOR ISIS IN SYRIA

Abu Abdullah Al Brittani

The 32-year-old, right, is one of ten Britons from Portsmouth to travel Syria to fight for ISIS.

The British jihadist who says he is fighting for ISIS has attempted to lure a child away from his parents with chilling online travel advice on how to reach the Middle East.

A man calling himself Abu Abdullah Al Brittani gave detailed information on how Iraq-bound Westerners can exchange currencies to an Ask.Fm user who described himself as 'underage', said he had never travelled alone before, and expressed concern about his mother and father finding out.

The post outlines ISIS' openness to luring Western fighters of all ages to their cause - including an estimated 500 Britons, many of whom end up being used as little more than 'cannon fodder' to protect better trained local jihadists.

Abu Abdullah was behind an Ask.Fm travel guide for would-be jihadists that formed part of an attempt to recruit young Britons to Iraq and Syria.

One user asked him: 'I havent any traveling and i'm underage but what do you mean with no worries about money. honestly I don't know how to change money into tukish or syrian money. How does it work? I can't ask my parents or they will now [sic]'.

Despite the poster admitting he is a child and exhibiting clear naivety, Abu Abdullah responded: 'If u have $ or £ then u fine, any other currency exchange it to $ or £ before u get here and [God willing] u will be fine [sic].'

Another message described the 'welcome pack' new ISIS recruits receive when they complete theIr induction process.

'After training u get a ak47 and magazines (4) a vest pack, grenade [sic]' he posted on Ask.Fm.

Another message contained detailed marriage advice for potential recruits.

Muhammad Hamidur Rahman

A former supervisor at Primark who wanted to join the world's most feared terrorist group, only to be killed in Syria.

Muhammad Hamidur Rahman, 25, from Portsmouth, was shot dead in a gun fight in July, a day before the Muslim festival if Eid, his family said.

His father, Abdul Hannan, 52, an Indian restaurant worker, said the family received a text message from a friend of Rahman in Syria who informed them that their son was dead.

Rahman became the second British jihadist from Portsmouth to die in Syria. The first was his friend Iftekhar Jaman, 23, who died in December.

Rahman's father, Mr Hannan, said that Jaman went to Syria first at the beginning of last year, and then took his son there by contacting him through social media.

He said that Rahman did not tell any member of his family that he was going to Syria, but suddenly disappeared from Portsmouth. Days later, they received a call from him saying he was in Syria.

Mr Hannan said: 'He asked us to pray for him, and said he wanted to become a shaheed (martyr) for the sake of Allah.'

Mashudur Choudhury

He became the first Briton to be found guilty of travelling to Syria to fight in the civil war.

Police said the conviction of Mashudur Choudhury, 31, right, was likely to pave the way for others returning from the fighting to be prosecuted.

The father of two went to fight with Al Qaeda to escape the shame of lying to his family about suffering from cancer.

Choudhury, from Portsmouth, borrowed £35,000 from his family, claiming it was for medical treatment.

But he blew it on foreign holidays, a luxury car and prostitutes.

Desperate to atone for his actions and 'make something of himself' he resolved to become a martyr fighting the brutal regime of Bashar Assad.

But he is believed to have failed the selection process to join a hardline group of Syrian rebels and was thrown out of their training camp in disgrace.

He was arrested by British anti-terror police on his return to Gatwick in October last year.

After a 12-day trial at Kingston Crown Court, West London, Choudhury was found guilty of engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts.

Ifthekar Jaman

Hampshire-born Ifthekar Jaman, 23 (pictured as a child) died last year in a battlefield clash in Syria

The young Briton boasted of fighting '5-star jihad' in Syria but was killed.

Ifthekar Jaman, 23, died last year in a battlefield clash 2,000 miles from his Hampshire home last December.

He was one of an estimated 350 British men to have taken up arms with Al Qaeda-linked groups in Syria – where they are known as British Kataa'ib, meaning British Brigade.

Speaking a month ago, Jaman declared he was ready to die as a martyr, vowing: 'I don't plan to come back. Life is for the hereafter... it's an eternal paradise so the sacrifice is small.'

He also urged fellow Britons to join him, using his Twitter account to glory in his hate-filled missions.

He described fighting in Syria as '5-star jihad' because of its 'relaxing' nature.

Photographs showed Jaman – a supporter of fanatical British cleric Anjem Choudary – apparently manning armed checkpoints in the Middle Eastern war zone just before his death. 

Captain among three soldiers killed in cross-border attack

KHAR: Three security personnel, including an army captain, were killed in an attack by Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban militants in Mamond tehsil in Bajaur Agency, official and tribal sources said on Saturday.

Sources said heavily armed militants operating from the Kunar province of Afghanistan stormed the checkpost of the security forces in Ghakhi Pass near the Pak-Afghan border.

Three soldiers were killed while two persons, including a civilian, suffered injuries in the attack.

The injured were taken to the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Khar, the administrative headquarters of Bajaur Agency, from where they were referred to a military hospital in Peshawar due to their critical condition.

The political administration and the security forces arrested 60 suspects during a search operation in the area after the attack. Such arrests are mostly made under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) against the tribesmen living in the area where the attack has taken place.

The security forces also defused two remote controlled bombs during the search.

The militants affiliated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Kunar often attack border areas in Bajaur. However, it was the first major attack after the Pakistani forces launched a major operation against the militants in North Waziristan on June 15.

The TTP Bajaur Agency chapter claimed responsibility for the night-time attack. It spokesperson, who uses the same name, Shahidullah Shahid, as the central spokesman of the TTP, made a phone call to reporters in Khar and Peshawar using the SIM of Afghanistan’s mobile phone service, to claim responsibility for the attack. He said their men operating in the border area blew up the vehicle of the security forces supplying troops in Gakhi Pass and killed all seven soldiers on board. He claimed the Taliban fighters also seized weapons and other equipment and brought these to their bases.

Meanwhile, Yousaf Raza Mujahid, claiming to be the head of the obscure Taliban al-Qaeda group in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies, appealed to the Pakistani government and the “mujahideen” to announce a ceasefire keeping in view the prevailing security situation in the country.

In a phone call from an undisclosed location to reporters, he said the enemies of the country were benefiting from the rift between the Taliban and the government.

He urged the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to play their role in steering the country out of the prevailing crises and strengthening democracy.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan strongly condemned the terrorist attack. The governor expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of precious lives of security personnel.

The governor said that the immortal sacrifices of the officers and jawans of the security forces, FC and Pakistan Army for the security of the country will never go in vain and will always be remembered with great pride.

NNI adds from Islamabad: Pakistan lodged a formal protest with Afghanistan over the cross-border attack.

“Pakistan strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a Bajaur Scouts vehicle at Gakhi Pass in Bajaur Agency launched from across the border in Afghanistan. An officer and two soldiers embraced Shahadat in the attack, while two soldiers were critically injured,” the Foreign Office said.

It said a strong protest had been lodged with the Afghan side in Islamabad and Kabul. “It has been reiterated that Afghanistan should eliminate terrorist sanctuaries and not allow its territory to be used against Pakistan,” said the FO statement.

It said at a time when a “monumental effort” was underway through a major offensive to eliminate all terrorists and their hideouts in North Waziristan tribal region, Afghanistan’s cooperation remained essential for the success of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism endeavours.

INP adds: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif condemned the cross-border terrorist attack on a Pakistani checkpost in Bajaur Agency in which three soldiers, including a captain, embraced martyrdom.

In a statement, the prime minister said the security forces were fighting the war against terrorism to protect the future of the country and laying down their lives for the purpose.

The prime minister said the nation will always remember the sacrifices of the armed forces for the country. He said such attacks could not deter the resolve of the government to eliminate terrorism.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif also condemned the attack on security forces in Bajaur.

They prayed that Almighty Allah rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear the loss with equanimity.

‘Taliban al-Qaeda’ claims responsibility for PIA plane attack

KHAR: A group calling itself the Taliban al-Qaeda group has claimed responsibility for the recent firing on the passenger airline in which a woman was killed.

It is the first time that any militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Pakistan International Airlines plane that was landing at the Peshawar airport after having flown from Riyadh. However, the claim lacks credibility as this little-known group has not been blamed for any attack on the security forces or government installations yet.

Talking to reporters on Thursday, the Taliban al-Qaeda group chief Yousaf Raza Mujahid said the plane was fired at to avenge the atrocities committed against the Taliban.He also claimed responsibility for the recent attacks on the security checkpost in Helmand province in Afghanistan and military base in Nuristan.

He vowed to continue struggle against the unjust system of governance and justice in Pakistan. He said that militants would convene a meeting to discuss ceasefire during Ramazan.

Gunmen kill at least 26 in Kenya attack: official

MOMBASA: At least 26 people were killed when some 50 insurgents flying black flags swept into a Kenyan coastal town firing guns in an unprecedented attack, a local government official said Monday.

"So far we have collected over 26 bodies and taken them to the mortuary, but we are still looking for more," Benson Maisori, deputy commissioner for the district told.

Gun battles began Sunday evening and continued into the early hours of Monday morning, but by dawn, the town of Mpeketoni was reported calm.

The insurgents were reported to have been from Somalia´s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab.

"There were around 50 attackers, heavily armed in three vehicles, and they were flying the Shebab flag," Maisori added, speaking from the town, where several buildings including hotels, restaurants, banks and government offices were razed to the ground.

"They were shouting in Somali and shouting ´Allahu Akbar´", he added, meaning "God is great", in Arabic.

Cafes and bars were reportedly packed with people watching the World Cup on television when the gunmen attacked.

The town of Mpeketoni, a trading centre on the main coastal road, lies on the mainland some 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Lamu island, a popular tourist destination whose ancient architecture is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kenyan army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir described how the gunmen had stormed the town, overwhelming local police officers, and firing from vehicles "shooting people around in town".

Chirchir also said the attackers were "likely to be Al-Shebab," although there was no immediate claim of responsiblity from the Islamists themselves.

Attackers tried to storm a police post including an armoury, but Maisori said officers had defended the building and fought the gunmen off.

It was the latest in a series of attacks or bombings to hit Kenya -- most usually blamed on the Shebab or their supporters -- but the reported scale and nature of this attack is rare.

Kenyan troops crossed into southern Somalia in 2011 to fight the Shebab, later joining the now 22,000-strong African Union force battling the insurgents.

The Shebab vowed revenge, carrying out attacks, including one on Nairobi´s Westgate mall in September 2013 in which at least 67 people were killed.

 

Qaeda claims recent attack on Tunisia minister’s home

TUNIS: Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said Friday it was responsible for a recent attack on the home of Tunisia´s interior minister that killed four policemen, the first such claim in the country.

"A group of lions... went to cut off the head of the criminal Lotfi Ben Jeddou at his home... and God allowed them to kill a number of his personal guards," an AQIM statement said.

The statement, posted on an Internet forum, said the May 27 attack on the house in the western border region of Kasserine, had also wounded other guards and that weapons had been seized.

It added that Jeddou, who was not in the house, "got away this time, but he won´t the next."

And it said that "entering into open war against Islam and its partisans to please the United States, France or Algeria, will cost dearly."

Meanwhile, the interior ministry said two terrorists were killed by national guardsmen during an operation Friday in the Jendouba region to the north, and that other "terrorists" were being hunted.

Several militants and members of the security forces were killed in Jendouba in February and March.

 

Airport attack: Internal security be improved

KARACHI: Defence analyst Shahzad Chaudhry, while commenting on the attack on Karachi Airport, said that the government had to improve internal security in the cities. Senior analyst Rasool Bakhsh Rais and executive-director of Pildat Ahmed Bilal Mehboob also expressed their opinions in Geo News programme ‘Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Sath’ on Wednesday.
The host of the programme, Mohammed Junaid, said that a wave of terrorism swept around Karachi in the last a few days. It began with the attack on Karachi airport. Security institutions say that the terrorist attack was repulsed and 10 terrorists were killed. But 29 lives were also lost. The ASF personnel bore the brunt of the attack, with 22 of its personnel embracing martyrdom. It was learnt the following day that seven people had taken refuge in a warehouse adjacent to a cold storage to save them from the onslaught of the terrorists. Their plight did not come to light immediately and there was also a delay in putting out the fire which resulted in death of other seven people.

Defence analyst Shahzad Chaudhry said that the state had been left with only option after the attack on Karachi airport i.e. operation. The thing that the country had to decide now was the nature of the operation and the areas where the operation was to be carried out. There was now no alternative other than operation. He said that the government had to make the security of important installations foolproof. Internal security in the cities had to be improved. Police, paramilitary forces and intelligence outfits would have a pivotal role in the operation. The rift in the ranks of the Taliban was their weakness.

Shahzad Chaudhry said that now the bigger menace was those groups of Taliban which were outside the country and who were being controlled by foreign agencies. Commenting on Pakistan-India relations, Mohammed Junaid said that in the latest development in this regard, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had written a letter to the Indian prime minister that efforts should be made to normalise relations.

Senior analyst Rasool Bakhsh Rais said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s message of peace to his Indian counterpart was a commendable gesture. He said that he hoped that the Indian prime minister would reciprocate the gesture of peace. Pakistan should not leave any stone unturned in its efforts to improve relations with India.

Rasool Bakhsh Rais said that the foundation of India-China relations was trade, and so it should be between Pakistan and India. “If we find that Indian arms were used in the attack on Karachi airport, we should lodge a strong protest with India. The evidence of Indian interference in Balochistan should be put before the Indian prime minister.”

Commenting on electoral reforms, Mohammed Junaid said that the demand for electoral reforms was being raised for some time. The Election Commission had declared the 2013 elections transparent, but several political parties had raised questions over the transparency of the elections, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf being the loudest protestor in this connection. There was a consensus between the government and the opposition parties that electoral reforms were essential for free and transparent elections. However, demands in this regard had not been met. How the Nawaz government tackled the problem, and how it took along all the opposition parties in this regard would become clear through the government’s actions. Meanwhile, the government had been talking about forming a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms.

Executive Director of Pildat, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, said that a new parliamentary committee on electoral reforms would complicate the exercise because the previous parliamentary committees had done a lot of spadework for electoral reforms while the Election Commission had already submitted 24 amendments before the law ministry.

He said that the condition for the post of election commissioners to be former chief justice of the Supreme Court or of the High Court must be done away with.

He said that the parliamentary committee for electoral reforms would not be able to satisfy Imran Khan because he wanted investigation into the excesses in the last elections and he called for verification of thumb impressions in four constituencies.

Karachi airport attack: Chaudhry Nisar slams Sindh govt over ‘apathy’

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday took a strong exception to Sindh government for not paying heed to interior ministry’s correspondence about security at the gates of old airport.

Calling for a judicial inquiry, he said that the Karachi airport incident was a result of non-seriousness on part of Sindh government which is condemnable. He urged the provincial government to speak truth to the nation.

He said that the Sindh government fulfilled its responsibilities over the last five months and it sent as many as six alert regarding potential terrorist attacks. Nisar Ali Khan said that the Sindh government didn’t take action despite it was informed precisely about the airport gates vulnerable to militant attacks.

The minister said as to why measures were not taken on the basis of intelligence information to prevent the attack.

Use of Indian weapons in Karachi attack

 

ISLAMABAD: The Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah, on Wednesday asked the government to seek an explanation from the Indian High Commission about the recovery of Indian weapons that the militants used against Pakistani security forces at the Karachi airport attack.
“The Foreign Office should summon the Indian high commissioner and lodge a protest of founding of the Indian weapons from Karachi airport and show him the founded weapons as a evidence and should ask as to how militants got Indian weapons to attack Pakistani airport,” he said while talking to the newsmen at his chamber at the Parliament House.

He questioned that whether the Indian did not have any control on their agencies.The opposition leader said the opposition has given a complete mandate to the government against the terrorism, but it did not get benefit from it. “The government should play on front foot against the terrorism,” he said.

In reply to a question, the opposition leader said the National Assembly speaker should not have given a statement on security of Parliament. “The speaker should have avoided to make a statement on the security of Parliament as this statement is tantamount to invitation to attack on the parliament,” he added.

He was of the view that such things could be raised in internal meetings but not openly to expose the weaknesses,” he added.The opposition leader said it was decided in the opposition parties meeting that keeping of quorum during the budget debate as the maintaining of the quorum is the responsibility of the government.

“We can give them relaxation if 10 to 15 members were short of the quorum but not if the government wants to run the session with 30 to 35 members then we will point out quorum,” he added.In a reply to another question, the opposition leader said the opposition had decided to jointly move the cut motion on the grants.

Martyrs of Karachi airport attack laid to rest

KARACHI: Personnel of the Airport Security Force (ASF) who were martyred in the terrorist attack on the Karachi airport are being laid to rest in their respective hometowns amidst tears and sorrow.

ASF official Islamuddin’s funeral prayers were offered at the GPO ground in Multan. A resident of the Ghareebabad area of Multan, Islamuddin received a salute from the ASF officials before being laid to rest.

ASF ASI Tariq Masood Babar of Faisalabad was buried in his ancestral graveyard after his funeral prayers were offered in a nearby village.

ASF officials Mohammad Azam and Mohammad Hayat hailing from Toba Tek Singh and Mian Channu, were also buried in their hometowns.

The funeral prayer of ASF Inspector Muhammad Sarwar was held in Gul Bahar Colony, Lahore.

Meanwhile ASF sergeant Abdul Malik’s body has been transported to Sadiqabad where his last rites will be offered.

Attack on Pakistan’s gateway

I was just a child when in the mid ’60s, the deputy foreign minister of Poland was killed in what could be described as the first suicide attack at the tarmac of Terminal 1, Karachi. Several VIPs, who were at the reception line were also killed. The assailant was said to be an extremist and anti-communist.

Decades later Terminal 1, of Karachi airport, now the Jinnah International airport, is in the news again, after about a dozen militants stormed the airport.What happened at Terminal 1 on Sunday was an attack on the Gateway of Pakistan, and the entire country is still in the grip of fear and terror. It raised serious questions about our national security and the confusion that prevails about unanimity of views between civilian and military leadership.

This incident poses serious challenge to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s vision of Pakistan and one wonders whether this attack would take Pakistan forward or further backwards. Weapon-free Karachi is still a dream and it looks as it will remain a dream. One was surprised to read the statement of the government that major attack was foiled. We should thank our stars for that, otherwise it the militants could have hijacked a plane or blown up some planes. The fallout of such an eventuality would have been unnerving. We must admit that the militants put the country on the defensive. This could be the beginning of a long war.

A big attack was expected in the major cities since the sudden break up of “peace talks,” but the attackers and planners chosen Pakistan’s economic hub, Karachi, which may see more deadly attacks in the coming weeks and months, as warned by the intelligence agencies. Thus, the move looked well calculated to target country’s “gateway.”

Despite target killings, day to day shut down or strikes, protests, bhatta mafia threats, industrial shut down, the port city of Karachi still provides 60 per cent revenue to the country. Had the city been peaceful with satisfactory law and order, it could have changed the destiny of the nation.

Pakistan is a victim of the policies of the two Generals, who ruled this country for almost 22 years: — General Zia ul Haq and General (R) Pervez Musharraf. Interestingly, both adopted different policies but the results were almost similar. They created a mess and made peace a dream for over 180 million Pakistanis which may not be realized in the near future.

There is no need to elaborate Pakistan’s bloody journey as a consequence of the policies of both Gen Zia and Gen Musharraf. Both looked after US interests but at the cost of interest of millions of Pakistanis. Both fought US war in return for billions of dollars and made Pakistan, poorer and poorer, unsafe and insecure. We are a nuclear power, but getting weaker and weaker due to internal conflicts.

Terminal 1, reminded me of the bloody dramatic end of 1986 hijacking of PAN-AM airliner at the same venue and it was also Sunday. I had covered that event as a junior reporter, when our commandos stormed the plane to rescue the hostages. But, that was confined to one plane; target was not Pakistan but a particular plane. The only similarity between the two incidents was that in both cases the attackers were “foreigners,” but Muslims. In PAN-AM case it was a group of Palestinians and here they were suspected Uzbeks (though it is yet to be confirmed).

It was perhaps the natural outcome of the events of the last two months, when all of a sudden “peace talks” were suspended and the militants started attacking security forces followed by air strikes on their hideouts in North Wazirstan in retaliation. To date, no one knows what led to the break up in talks? Both sides blame each other but none of them gives a convincing reply. Where is the government? Why has the Parliament not been taken into confidence? Does the so-called difference of opinion between civilian and military leadership still persist? Apparently we have not heard or read any categorical statement from the civilian leadership.

From day one the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) government was double-minded in dealing with Taliban and other extremist groups. Whether to go for peace talks with Taliban or opt for a full scale military operation? The first option was adopted when some Islamic clerics were used, whose name were not disclosed. But, no one knows why and how that committee was replaced by another committee. Here too, strangely, the consent of members was not sought before announcement of the committee. Then the task was given to retired Major Aamir, PM’s advisor Irfan Siddiqui and noted journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai. Taliban too nominated the committee headed by Maulana Samiul Haq with Prof Ibrahim and Yusuf Shah as its members.

Although both sides expressed optimism after the first round, the second round was delayed for unknown reasons and despite the release of some prisoners which, Taliban said they had never demanded, the situation started getting tense day by day.

Perhaps, too much media attention and desire of both sides to go to media, every second day also created misunderstanding.It was gratifying to note (and the government took credit for that) that there was no US drone attack after the process of peace talk was initiated. After some attacks on security forces, the civilian and military leadership finally decided, “unanimously,” that Pakistan army would retaliate, if attacked. Thus, for the first time instead of “drones” Pakistani Air Force hit the militant camps. However, Taliban claimed that many civilians were killed in these attacks but security forces said many foreign and local militants were killed.

In the meantime, Federal Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan expressed his optimism about another round of peace talks but for unknown reasons his efforts could not succeed.Now, the Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif, who is struggling hard to get into the good books of military establishment, declared after the Karachi attack that the government would “eliminate the militants.” How? Only Khawaja Sahab has the answer to this question.

But it is now time for the civilian and military leadership to be on the same page. Their differences are not mere whims but hard realities ever since government decided to arrest retired General Musharraf under Article 6, and to try him for high treason. That the army was not amused with the action is an open secret. Relations became so strained that a strong feeling emerged within the establishment that the government is backing Geo. Though, army did support government initiative for peace talks but within its own circle, they were not very optimistic about the success of the talks.

Now, only Ch Nisar Ali Khan, who was given full mandate for the talks by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, knows what actually happened and what went wrong? Maybe one day he will speak out and tell the whole story!But at the moment it seems that there would be attacks and counter attacks without any formal announcement of launching an “all out operation.”

Secondly, even if the government gave green signal to military operation, will it be confined to Waziristan and adjacent areas or would be for the entire country? This may be an uphill task. One thing is certain three cities are likely to be affected most: Karachi, Rawalpindi and Islamabad while situation in Peshawar too may see deadly scenes.

Killing of around 30 people including 11 from Airport Security Force clearly indicates the kind and amount of weapons the militants were carrying. Though, there was no specific alert about the airport but Ministry of Interior did warn Sindh government about possible terrorist attack on sensitive installations in Karachi. To be very honest such high security was never placed in highly sensitive areas.

At least, no high or red alert was visible at the airport.Terminal 1, was most vulnerable for such attacks as you may hardly find any major security, if you come from “Star Gate.” There were all kind of speculations from where the terrorists have come. They may have come from the main gate, where you hardly found top security unless some VVIPs were coming. They could have come from the adjacent colony and who knows, some of them might be staying at the hotel in the vicinity with fake names.

Gallant SSG commandos and ASF personnel succeeded in preventing the terrorist from hijacking a plane or entering the main Terminal II, and some brave ASF soldiers also sacrificed their lives. The fact is that the event has once again exposed our “security and safety narratives.” How many attacks would be needed to teach us the lesson?

Militant’s strategy was clear. They knew they were on a suicidal mission but they also knew that this event would hurt Pakistan badly, both from security and more from economic point of view.

In the last few years, we had witnessed attacks on airports like the one at Peshawar airport or at Mehran base, but the attack on Pakistan’s biggest International Airport, Karachi is the attack on Pakistan. It is an attack on country’s jugular vein, the economic hub of Pakistan. Can our economy survive in case Karachi becomes another Waziristan?

Karachi airport attack: Last nail in peace talks coffin

ISLAMABAD: The bloody Fidayeen attack targeting the Jinnah International Airport has not only exposed the inability of law enforcement agencies to protect the vital national installations from terrorist attacks but has also proved to be the last nail in the coffin of peace talks between the Pakistan government and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The dreadful assault has set alarm bells ringing for the law enforcement agencies which had earlier been criticised due to their failure to stop at least three similar Fidayeen attacks in the past — on May 22, 2011 targeting the Mehran Naval Base in Karachi, on August 16, 2012 targeting the PAF Kamra Airbase and on September 15, 2012 targeting the joint civil-military airport in Peshawar that houses the Bacha Khan International Airport and Pakistan Air Force and Army Aviation bases.

Subsequent investigations revealed that all these attacks were well planned, which could not have been possible without inside help.From the time Osama was gunned down in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011, the TTP has launched a bloody campaign of retribution against the Pakistani security forces and civil and military installations.

The June 8 Fidayeen attack by the TTP has given credence to the apprehensions of security establishment that the talks by the Taliban are just a ploy to gain time and space and to evade a possible military operation in North Waziristan. Even otherwise, by entering into unconditional negotiations with a terrorist group that is accused of having killed over 50,000 Pakistanis, the government has only undermined the writ of the state and security of the nation.

With the TTP’s responsibility claim, which in fact is an open declaration of war against the government, the civilian administration seems to have been left with no other option but to react with full military might by launching the much-delayed military operation in North Waziristan, which is being used by the Taliban as a launching pad to plan and launch terrorist attacks all over Pakistan. The government’s policy of one step forward, two steps back cannot bring peace — only more death and destruction.

While describing the airport assault an act of revenge for the November 1, 2013 killing of Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone attack, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid has also dismissed the Pakistani government’s recent offer of a new round of peace talks as a ruse.

Threatening more terrorist attacks in the days and weeks to come, he said: “Pakistan used the peace talks as a tool of war. We have yet to take revenge for the deaths of hundreds of innocent tribal women and children in Pakistani air strikes. It’s just the beginning, we have taken revenge for one (Mehsud), we have to take revenge for hundreds.”

In fact, the June 8 Jinnah airport attack came 48 hours after the country’s civilian and military leaderships conveyed a clear message to the tribal elders in North Waziristan to flush out the miscreants, especially the foreign militants, from the volatile area within 15 days. The message was conveyed on June 6 when a Jirga of the Utmanzai tribe, led by Haji Sher Mohammad, held separate meetings with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan and Corps Commander Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani.

The tribal elders were told that they had failed to honour the six-point peace agreement, signed in 2006, as per which the Utmanzai tribe and the Shura Mujahideen North Waziristan leader Hafiz Gul Bahadur, who is considered to be a “good Taliban”, were bound to expel the foreigners from the area.

The bottomline of the tribal elders’ meetings with the governor and corps commander was that they would get rid of the foreign militants, especially the Uzbeks; otherwise, the Government of Pakistan would have no other option but to initiate a military action. The tribal elders had actually formed the Jirga to request the federal government to put off the imminent military action in North Waziristan.

However, the fact that the TTP has already claimed responsibility for the Karachi Fidayeen attack clearly indicates that the Taliban Ameer Mullah Fazlullah has already made up his mind to completely abandon the peace talks. Earlier, on May 14, Fazlullah had sacked the pro-talks Khalid Mehsud alias Said Khan Sajna as the Ameer of the South Waziristan chapter of the TTP without consulting the Taliban Shura.

Three days later, on May 18, Fazlullah had ordered [in a video message] the TTP suicide bombers or Fidayeen attackers to get ready to face the tanks and guns of the enemy forces. “The suicide bombers who are able to receive his message should convey the same to others who are still unaware of my orders. Like the Taliban militants, the Pakistan government, the armed forces and the intelligence agencies would also have to accept the writ of Allah Almighty by enforcing Shariah which is the mission of my life and which I will continue to pursue come what may,” said Fazlullah, who has already been accused of having ordered the killing of several senior Pakistani military officials, including the General Officer Commanding of Swat.

Following Mullah Fazlullah’s open declaration of war against the state of Pakistan, the pro-talks Said Khan Sajna faction of the Taliban announced to discard the TTP umbrella on May 28. The development was being described by security analysts as a major setback not only for Mullah Fazlullah but also for the military might of the TTP given the fact that Sajna enjoys the support of 12 major Mehsud tribes of South Waziristan, which had played an important role in the past in establishing the Tehrik-e-Taliban as a force to reckon with.

However, the audacious attack on the Jinnah International Airport has proved that the parting of ways by Sajna has hardly affected the military might of the TTP, courtesy the availability of Uzbek militants belonging to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

Those investigating the Karachi airport attack have conceded that a group of foreign fighters, especially the Uzbeks, seem to have played a major role in the Fidayeen attack. “Three militants blew themselves up and seven were killed by security forces,” said DG Rangers Rizwan Akhtar in televised remarks. “The militants appear to be Uzbeks.”

The Uzbek militants living in North Waziristan had already denounced the 15-day deadline set by the Pakistani authorities for the foreign militants to leave the area. Irked by hoisting of national flag by tribesmen in Miramshah and Mirali areas as a proof of their allegiance to the state of Pakistan in order to escape bombings, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan had declared on June 7 that it has decided to respond by hoisting black flags. In fact, the sale of the national flag had increased as more and more people in North Waziristan want to hoist it to demonstrate their allegiance to the state and escape bombing.

However, the IMU has criticised those hoisting the Pakistani flag, stating that those doing so were “weak-hearted Muslims” who are using the flags as a “defence” to ward off bombing. In a message posted on a militant website, the IMU’s spokesman, Abu Ibrahim, said the local tribesmen frightened by army attacks and bombings by military planes and helicopters and artillery had begun hoisting the national flag on roofs of their houses. “We still have not understood how effective this ‘defence system’ is against bombs and rockets,” he said. The IMU, comprising militants from Uzbekistan and of Turkic origin, has its main base in the town of Mirali.

To tell the truth, the TTP and IMU have long been collaborating and conducting joint terrorist attacks, especially targeting the Pakistani security forces. The last time they carried out a jointly coordinated terrorist operation was on December 16, 2012 when the terrorists targeted the Pakistan Air Force base in Peshawar. Four attackers were later identified as Uzbeks belonging to the IMU. The TTP and IMU had earlier joined hands to form a special unit of deadly Fidayeen attackers called the “Ansar Al Aseer” (the supporters of prisoners) whose prime mission would be to secure freedom for the imprisoned militants by carrying out jail-break Fidayeen operations all over Pakistan.

Karachi attack worst example of security failure: Opposition

 

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) on Monday deplored the terrorist attack on the Karachi airport while the opposition expressed its dismay over the government’s silence on the terror bid and questioned the absence of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar from the House.
It demanded that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif take the parliament into confidence on the matter and said the government and the opposition were on the same page for taking solid steps to formulate a policy against the terrorists.

The NA session resumed after a delay of two hours due to disturbance of flights schedule in Karachi. Members from both the sides unanimously condemned the terrorist attack on the Karachi airport and on the pilgrims in Taftan in Balochistan.

Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah said the terrorist attack on the Karachi airport was a “national security disaster”. He questioned the government’s silence on it and absence of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar from the NA.

Sheikh Rashid suspected involvement of a foreign hand in the incident and questioned who will benefit from the attacks on Pakistan. He questioned what benefit will the tribal people from North Waziristan gain from the attack. “If such an incident had happened in India, they would have brought their forces to (our) borders.”

Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch said the war against terrorism was a national war.

Khursheed Shah urged the prime minister to take the House into confidence in this regard. “We don’t speak out as we are afraid of being killed. Who will speak if we keep quiet,” he questioned.

The opposition leader said, “We will fight like a lion and make Pakistan a cradle of peace. How can the people of Pakistan feel safe when the government is itself confused?”

He said there was no response from the interior ministry to the incident, which shows that the concerned ministry was unaware of what was going on in Karachi. “It seems that the prime minister tried to find out the interior minister the whole night and he was able to find him on Monday morning. Then the prime minister sent the interior minister to Karachi,” he added.

He said the Taliban had accepted responsibility for the attack and the government was silent over it.

The opposition leader said all the political parties of the country authorised the government to do anything for peace eight months ago but the government had not taken parliament or the political leadership into confidence on the fate of the dialogue.

The opposition leader was of the view that even the Parliament House was not secure anymore as a few weeks back, Sikh protesters entered it and no one stopped them. He said it was time that the prime minister take the nation into confidence and explain which ministry was responsible for the attack – the Defence Ministry, Interior Ministry or Aviation Division.

He said the PM’s adviser on aviation had reached Karachi on Sunday night but the interior minister was not able to reach there. He said by doing so, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar wanted to give a message to “someone” that he did not want to fight with anyone.

The opposition leader said he wanted to ask the question from all the institutions of the country that when pilgrims entered Iran, they were always safe but as soon as they returned home, they were attacked and martyred.

He said the parliamentarians’ phones were tapped, and their activities were monitored but “they” (those who tap phone calls) did not know about the terrorist attacks.

He said even they are more interested to know what TV channels the government was with and slogans were raised against those TV channels. “We are busy in such petty fights and nobody cares about the security of Pakistan,” he said.

Shah said if anyone wanted to live, then live like a lion rather than a jackal. “Pakistan belongs to all of us and all of us have to come forward to make our land safe and secure,” he added.

The opposition leader also appealed to the media not to telecast such incidents live as it will create a wrong impression.

PTI’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the government looked paralysed following the terrorist attack.

He said the interior minister should have rushed to Karachi on Sunday night. “The interior minister should have gone to Karachi after taking parliament into confidence,” he added.

Qureshi said Pakistanis wanted peace in the country and in the wake of terrorist attacks, the debate on budget was meaningless.

“When Karachi bleeds, how the finance minister can achieve the revenue target of Rs3.7 trillion which he proposed for the next fiscal year,” he added.

Ameer Zaman of the JUI-F extended support to the government to tackle the menace of terrorism.Abul Waseem of the MQM said the party was raising its voice against the Taliban in Karachi for long.

Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid strongly condemned the terrorist incidents in Karachi and Taftan.He paid tributes to the armed forces for bravely foiling the bid of terrorists. He said the interior minister had gone to Karachi to get details of the incident and will give a detailed statement in the House on Tuesday (today).

Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Chaudhry Barjees Tahir said today was a very sad day for the nation. He said the nation had to make a resolve to fight terrorism. He said the government will not compromise on its writ. “The government is clear that it will hold a dialogue with those who are ready for it,” he added.

He said the PML-N government had inherited terrorism. The House offered Fateha for those who lost their lives in Karachi and Taftan to terrorists on Sunday night.

Guard killed in eastern Afghanistan bombers attack

KABUL: An Afghan provincial official says suicide bombers have attacked a parking lot at a police base in eastern Afghanistan, killing a guard and setting 25 trucks ablaze.

Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, the spokesman for the provincial governor of Nangarhar province, says the attack happened late Sunday night in Behsud district. A suicide car bomber first detonated his vehicle at the entrance to the police base parking lot. Two other attackers then stormed in, shooting at the security forces.

Abdulazai says both attackers were killed by the police, but at least 25 fuel tankers and logistic trucks caught on fire and were burned during the fighting.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but insurgents have increasingly targeted Afghan forces ahead of the June 14 runoff in the country´s presidential election.

19 killed, 29 injured in Karachi airport attack: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Giving details about the audacious militant attack on Karachi Airport, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that 19 people were killed and 29 others injured in the attack.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said that the Pakistan Army, the Rangers, the Airport Security Force and the police had foiled the attack.

He said all the national assents remained safe in the attack except some minor damages to a couple of aircraft. He said that 11 ASF and seven Rangers personnel were killed in the operation.

The minister said that within the 20 minutes of the attack, the army had reached the airport and 10 militants had been killed till 1:30 am.

He said that 10 militants entered the facility through two different entry points of the airport where three of them blew themselves up while seven others were killed by the security forces.

The minister said that the attackers appeared to be foreign nationals and the weapons they were using hinted towards a certain country. He, however, refrained from confirming his claim before further investigation.

Chaudhry Nisar said that the forces had saved the people’s lives by rendering sacrifices.

Taliban claim responsibility for Karachi attack

TTP claim responsibility for Karachi attack

MIRANSHAH: The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Monday claimed responsibility for an attack on Karachi airport in revenge for their late leader Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike in November.

"We carried out the attack on Karachi airport to avenge the death of Hakimullah Mehsud," Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told, while dismissing the Pakistani government´s recent offer of peace talks as a "tool of war".

He also promised more attacks in the future. "Pakistan used peace talks as a tool of war, it killed hundreds of innocent tribal women and children. This is our first attack to avenge the death of Hakimullah Mehsud," he said.

"We have yet to take revenge for the deaths of hundreds of innocent tribal women and children in Pakistani air strikes.

"It´s just the beginning, we have taken revenge for one, we have to take revenge for hundreds," he told.

The initial assault at Jinnah International Airport in Pakistan´s southern port city began late Sunday and raged until dawn, when the military said that at least 28 people -- including all 10 attackers -- had been killed.

Equipped with suicide vests, grenades and rocket launchers, they had battled security forces in one of the most brazen attacks in years in Pakistan´s biggest city. Among the 18 victims were four airport workers. Security forces later announced that the military operation had been relaunched after gunfire at the airport resumed.

Umar Media, the official media wing of the TTP, claimed on their Facebook page that just six militants had attacked the airport.

"The biggest reason for attacking Karachi airport is because it serves as the biggest air logistics centre supplying goods for the Crusaders’ war in Afghanistan and Pakistan," a statement on their Facebook page claimed.

Death toll from Karachi airport attack rises to 22

KARACHI: Death toll from a brazen militant attack on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport attack has risen to 22 after recovery of two more bodies from Cargo Terminal, according to a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority.

The spokesman said that the two men were burnt to death after a fire erupted at the terminal during the militant attack.

He further said that five people were still missing and efforts were underway to recover them.

26 people lost lives in Taftan gun and suicide attack

QUETTA: At least 26 pilgrims -- including women -- were killed in a gun and suicide attack in Taftan area near Pakistan-Iran border, officials said Monday.

The attack late Sunday night came when a bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims returning from a visit to holy Muslim sites in Iran stopped at a restaurant in the Pakistani town of Taftan in troubled Baluchistan province. At least 20 people were injured in the deadly attack.

Authorities airlifted the bodies to the northwestern city of Kohat where most of the victims were from, the officials said. The Jaishul Islam militant group has claimed the attack.

23 pilgrims killed in Taftan terrorist attack

 

QUETTA: As many as 23 Shia pilgrims were killed and many injured in bomb explosions and firing incidents in Taftan tehsil, some 932 kilometers from Quetta, on Sunday night.
“The attackers barged into the Al-Murtaza hotel and Hashmi hotel located in Taftan minutes after the pilgrims arrived at the hotels. Independent sources from Taftan said that the attackers hurled hand grenades and opened indiscriminate fire with modern weapons killing 23 people on the spot.

Confirming the incident, officials of the levies, a sort of tribal police, told The News that as the pilgrims, who were on their way from Iran to Quetta reached Taftan — a Pakistani town located at the Pak-Iran border — they were housed in the hotels. As they entered the hotels, some armed men who were chasing them attacked them with hand grenades and opened fire.

The reports said that the firing was so sudden and intense that the victims could not resist and over 30 people sustained bullets injuries. Of them, 23 people breathed their last on the spot and many others sustained injuries, some of them serious.

Officials of the levies force said that soon after the incident, a heavy contingents of the levies force and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The officials of the levies added that an exchange of firing took place between the levies and the unknown gunmen. Later, the armed men fled from the scene leaving behind the deceased in a pool of blood.

Some reports said there was a suicide attack at the Hashmi hotel during the firing incident. However, there was no official confirmation till our going to the press.Meanwhile, Shia leader Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi in a statement strongly condemned the attack while the Majlise Wahdate Muslimeen (MWM) censured the government for failing to provide security to the Zaireen.

Terrorists attack Karachi airport

 

 

 

KARACHI: Terrorists on Sunday night attacked the Old Terminal of the Karachi Airport, a high security area, in which seven Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel were killed while 13 security personnel were injured. Among the dead were ASI Tariq Maqsood, PC Muntazir and PC Abdul Malik. Also dead were a PIA official, a CAA employee and six terrorists. The terminal is considered as a high security zone as VVIPs, including the president and prime minister, frequently use it.
Reports claimed that three passenger aircraft and a cargo aircraft were damaged in the brazen attack.Following the attack, all flights heading for Karachi were diverted to other towns, including Nawabshah.

There was no confirmation about the strength of the terrorists, who could be up to 15 in number. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rao Anwaar Ahmed of District Malir said that the exact number of terrorists was yet to become clear.

Pakistan Army troops had been called in from Malir Cantonment while police commandos and Rangers were battling the terrorists. Sources added that large contingents of security forces had surrounded the airport and routes to the airport had been sealed.

An ISPR statement said the corps commander Karachi had arrived at the Karachi Airport and was supervising the operation.The Director General, Rangers, Maj General Rizwan Akhtar, had also reached the Karachi Airport. Moreover, Pakistan Army personnel were also called to the Karachi Airport who took up positions at sensitive points and were battling with the terrorists.

Police sources said that during the search operation at the Cargo Terminal, they had detained a suspect who might be a member of the terrorist group and was shifted by the law enforcers to an undisclosed location for investigation.

During the gunbattle, six terrorists were killed, reports said. A number of fires were also visible at the airport and there was the sound of frequent explosions and firing. Sources said the passengers and other people at the Jinnah Terminal were safe and there was no threat to them. Reports said Amir Liaquat Hussain, Farooq Sattar and Murad Ali Shah were stranded at the Jinnah Terminal.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah had also reached the airport to oversee the operation.The CAA authorities had suspended all operations till 12am on Tuesday night from the Karachi Airport.

At the time of the filing of this report, the terrorists were present inside the Ispahani Hangar of Karachi Airport and law enforcers were battling with them. However, the Cargo Terminal and Terminal-1 had been cleared of the terrorists.

In a late night development, A Rangers spokesman confirmed that six terrorists had been liquidated while they were battling the others. He said the Rangers had safely evacuated passengers from an aircraft parked at the Jinnah Terminal and shifted the passengers and the crew to the airport lounge.

Meanwhile, District East police said that SSP East Syed Pir Muhammad Shah along with a police party had engaged with terrorists near the Ispahani Hangar. During the encounter, two suicide bombers exploded themselves in which the gunman of SSP East PC, Liaquat, was critically wounded. Two terrorist were gunned down by the policemen, who recovered two rocket launchers, three Kalashinkovs, AWAN rockets and a suicide jacket from them.

Meanwhile, ISPR Spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted that live TV coverage from inside the airport should stop because it was hindering the operation, giving away the position of assets and troops, thus helping the terrorists.The operation against the terrorists was continuing till the filing of this report.