Pakistan, as a strategic ally in war on terror, has witnessed many retaliatory attacks from militant organisations active in the northwestern part of the country.
Over the years, banned outfits such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, have launched attacks on Pakistani soil killing scores of civilians and security personnel.
Dawn.com presents a timeline of all the main military sites attacked by the militant organisations over the years.
October 2009:
At least 10 gunmen clad in military uniforms and driving a white car attacked the General Headquarters (GHQ) located in Rawalpindi on the morning of October 10.
The GHQ was under siege for several hours where the militants had taken at least 42 hostages. According to Major General Athar Abbas militants presented a list of demands which included the release of some of the most wanted terrorists.
Operation Janbaz was launched to rescue the hostages and the Pakistan Army was able to rescue 39 of them. However, 11 soldiers and three hostages were killed during the attack and operation.
The operation also resulted in the capture of Aqeel aka Dr Usman whereas the other nine attackers were killed.
Amjad Farooqi Group claimed the responsibility of the GHQ attack.
On October 23, a suicide bomber blew himself up near the Minhas military air base in Kamra (Attock), killing eight, including two security officials and six other people, and injuring 17 others.
May 2011:
Several armed gunmen attacked PNS Mehran — one of the most densely populated naval bases located in Karachi — during the early hours of May 22. According to Interior Minister Rehman Malik, four to six armed militants used ladders to climb the naval base, triggering a fierce gun battle and a series of explosions.
One of the attackers was believed to have blown himself up whereas bodies of three others were found. Moreover, two attackers had managed to escape.
According to Malik, the militants invaded the base from three different points adjacent to Karachi’s residential areas.
The attack and operation lasted for 17 hours and resulted in the deaths of 10 security personnel. Two US-manufactured surveillance planes were also destroyed during the attack and the ensuing operation.
The responsibility of the attack was claimed by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
August 2012:
Eight heavily armed personnel launched an attack on Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) Minhas Airbase located in Kamra (Attock) in Punjab during the early hours of August 16. All the eight militants were killed by security forces whereas one security man also died during the attack and the ensuing operation.
The militants were carrying explosives, guns and suicide vests.
TTP claimed the responsibility for the attack.
December 2012:
The Pakistan Air Force base inside the Bacha Khan International Airport came under a daring attack by militants, with a simultaneous rocket barrage, resulting in the killing of seven people, including five militants, and injuries to 40 others.
Five rockets were fired at the airport. Two of them landed inside the premises, which also houses the army aviation and air force base used against militants in the adjoining tribal areas.
A spokesman for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan accepted responsibility, saying that the target was the air force base. He added that 10 militants took part in the attack.
