PESHAWAR: At least 29 people, including an army captain, were killed as militants attacked a heavily-guarded Pakistan Air Force base in Badhaber area on the outskirts of Peshawar early Friday morning, senior security officials said.
Confirming the attack, ISPR said 13 militants had been killed so far and a clearance operation was underway.
Of the 29 dead, 16 PAF soldiers were killed in a mosque as they offered morning prayers. Seven other PAF soldiers were killed in a barrack near the mosque. A captain died leading the counter-attack against raiders and two soldiers were also killed, DG ISPR said.
Security officials said the attackers split into three groups after entering the camp, with two moving to a residential area.
The third group approached the mosque and sprayed worshippers with bullets as they prayed, killing at least 16 of them. It was not clear how many were civilians and how many were military personnel.
It was unclear if the 16 killed in the mosque at the Badaber air base were civilians or military, he added. Terrorists entered camp at two points. Encounter began immediately, Bajwa tweeted. The attackers were contained within a close area. Meanwhile a group rushed to mosque, martyred 16 offering prayers.
Captain Asfandyar embraced shahadat while fighting valiantly and leading his troops from the front, Bajwa said.
Following the attack, Army chief General Raheel Sharif reached Peshawar. Further, Air Chief Sohail Aman also left for the city, a PAF spokesperson said.
Army chief visited CMH, met injured army and PAF personnel, Bajwa said, adding the chief of air staff accompanied him. Injured in high morale and spirits, he added.
Army chief and air chief visited the Badaber base. Met PAF, army and police troops who defeated the attackers and killed all terrorists, DG ISPR added.
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