Pakistani army thwarts terrorist attack on Mianwali air base

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) – The Pakistani army on Saturday said it foiled a terrorist attack on the Mianwali air base in the northeastern Punjab province early morning and killed at least three terrorists.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media-wing of the Pakistani army, said they neutralized the terrorists before they could enter the base.

"In the early hours of the day, the Mianwali Training Air Base of Pakistan Air Force came under a failed terrorist attack, which, Alhamdulillah, 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 military said.

The ISPR added that they also cornered there other militants, and damage was caused to three already grounded aircraft and a fuel bowser during the attack.

The Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the mother network of several Pakistani militant groups, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The latest attack came just a day after a series of incidents including two explosions in which 16 security personnel and four civilians were killed in Dera Ismail Khan district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Gwadar district of southwestern Balochistan province on Friday.

The latest wave of terror attacks occurred just a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan announced that the much-awaited general elections will be held on Feb. 8.