2014 Quetta Airbase attack

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2014 Quetta Airbase attack
Part of the War in North-West Pakistan
Quetta is located in Balochistan, Pakistan
Quetta
Quetta
Quetta is located in Pakistan
Quetta
Quetta
LocationQuetta, Balochistan, Pakistan
Coordinates30°11′N 67°00′E / 30.183°N 67.000°E / 30.183; 67.000
Date15 August 2014; 9 years ago (2014-08-15) (Pakistan Standard Time)
TargetKhalid–Samungli airbases, Pakistan Air Force
Attack type
Mass shooting
Deaths12
Injured12
Perpetrator Tehrik-i-Taliban
No. of participants
~13

The 2014 Quetta airbase attack occurred on 15 August 2014, when approximately 13 Tehrik-i-Taliban militants attempted to storm two airbases of the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force; PAF Base Samungli and Khalid Airbase, both located in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. The attack was largely unsuccessful as Pakistani security forces foiled the attempt following a major armed engagement between the two sides which resulted in the deaths of 12 militants, while 12 people were injured, including one attacker and 11 security personnel.[1][2]

Background[edit]

PAF Base Samungli is an airbase of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), located near the Quetta International Airport in the Pakistani province of Balochistan. The PAF No. 17 Squadron and No. 23 Squadron are based in Samungli, which has been used as a main operating base since the 1970s. The Samungli airbase was also used by the United States to conduct military logistics operations for the post-9/11 War in Afghanistan.[3][4] PAF Base Khalid is another airbase located some 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) away from PAF Base Samungli.[5]

Attack[edit]

The attack took place in the early hours of 15 August 2014, when Tehrik-i-Taliban militants, armed with automatic weapons, explosives and RPGs, attempted to storm PAF Base Samungli and PAF Base Khalid. According to a military spokesperson, Pakistani security forces pre-emptively engaged the terrorists during their infiltration attempt. Heavy contingents of police and security forces responded after an intense gunfight erupted between the terrorists and airbase personnel, during which explosives were extensively used. Lieutenant-General Nasir Khan Janjua of the Pakistan Army Southern Command (also based near Quetta) stated that six dead militants were found in PAF Base Khalid while another six were found in PAF Base Samungli. A wounded militant was captured by security forces and subsequently shifted for medical treatment and interrogation. 11 Pakistani security personnel were also wounded in the attack, and shifted for medical treatment. The Pakistan Armed Forces' Inter-Services Public Relations media wing later released a conclusive statement saying that both airbases had been secured.[6][7][5]

Responsibility[edit]

Ghalib Mehsud, commander of the Tehrik-i-Taliban's Fidayeen Islam wing, claimed responsibility for the attack, and in a threat to the Government of Pakistan, stated that there will be more attacks in the coming days.[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "TTP faction claims responsibility for attack on airbases in Quetta - Pakistan". Dawn.Com. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  2. ^ Yousufzai, Gul (14 August 2014). "Pakistan's Quetta airport hit by deadly bomb and gun attack". Reuters. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  3. ^ "PAKISTAN AIR FORCE - Official website". Paf.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  4. ^ "CIA drones quit one Pakistan site – but US keeps access to other airbases | The Bureau of Investigative Journalism". Thebureauinvestigates.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  5. ^ a b Web Desk (23 February 2011). "Attacks on Quetta airbases leave 12 militants killed, 11 officials injured – The Express Tribune". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  6. ^ Salman Masood (15 August 2014). "Militants Attack 2 Air Bases in Western Pakistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Terror plot at Quetta's Samungli, Khalid Airbases foiled | ARY NEWS". Arynews.tv. 6 August 1945. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  8. ^ Yousufzai, Gul (15 August 2014). "Ten dead in attacks on air force bases in Pakistan's Quetta". Reuters. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
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