May 20, 2002	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1423

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SUKKUR, May 19: A rocket exploded in Alipur village, some 10km from Shahbaz Airbase near Jacobabad Airport on Sunday causing no loss of life.

Initial reports suggested that rocket launcher was installed under a tree in forest lands of Batti Lara village. Police and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene and found four more rockets and an unspecified number of mortar guns and bombs which were immediately sent to Pano Aqil cantonment.

It was not clear whether the target was Shahbaz Airbase where US Army and Pakistan Air Force personnel are stationed. The airbase has landing facilities for US and PAF aircraft including C-130s. Several aircraft were parked there at the time the rocket, with a range of 22km, exploded in Alipur village.

The Additional Inspector General (AIG), Sukkur Range, Nayyar Husnain, while confirming the incident, said the “unknown terrorist” had fired the rocket which covered a distance of 10km between the launching spot and the site of explosion. Several military and civilian installations fall within the range.