Taliban attack Karachi airport

[Minskaya]

Pakistan Weighs Strike Against Taliban Over Airport Attack
June 9, 2014



ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The Pakistani Taliban's deadly attack on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport appears to have ended hopes for a peace deal, pushing the government toward an army operation against the militant group's strongholds in tribal areas, officials and analysts said on Monday. A meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had pursued peace talks with the Taliban since last year, and the military's top command is set to take place in the next few days, officials said, adding that an offensive in North Waziristan, where many Pakistani Taliban leaders are based, will be the main item on the agenda.

The attack by heavily armed militants late Sunday unleashed a gunbattle, explosions and a raging fire that lasted some six hours. The assault killed 18 airport security and administrative personnel. No passengers were harmed. The attackers, armed with guns and rocket-propelled grenades, were stopped just 25 meters from three planes full of passengers that were parked on the tarmac, security officials said. The assailants entered through the relatively less-secure gates at the airport's cargo terminal at 10:20 p.m. on Sunday. Army commandos and the paramilitary Rangers force were quickly called in to repel them. Officials said security personnel had foiled the attackers' plan to get into the passenger terminal, take hostages and hijack a plane. "The army is ready for an operation. It now all depends on the government to make a decision," said another security official.

Source

The current death toll is 30. Nawaz Sharif has been under intense pressure by the military to launch an offensive in North Waziristan since the onset of spring. Tens of thousands have already fled the mountainous region in anticipation of a Pakistani military offensive.

[Officer of Engineers]

That is a hell of a reaction time by the army and rangers. A surprise attack that was quickly contained and defeated within 6 hours. Must have been on stand by.

[sated buddha]

Pakistan has long since gone past the tipping point. While they will never admit to the same on open forums with thousands of Indians looking on, I chat privately with some Pakistanis regularly who openly lament the decision taken by their grandparents and great grand-parents and rue the fact that they were born in the wrong country.

The bunch of jokers who come as experts on our news channels from their side, mainly ex military and diplomatic corps, are as usual in denial and rhetoric mode.

[Minskaya]

38 people including 10 terrorists were killed at the Karachi airport. Pakistan says the airport is secure, however heavy fighting is being reported at the nearby base of the Airport Security Force (ASF). Pakistan launched air strikes on Taliban strongholds in North Waziristan this morning.

[lemontree]

The second strike near the airport has ended as the terrorists have escaped.
Live Blog - Another attack at Karachi airport complex- The Times of India

[Double Edge]

That is a hell of a reaction time by the army and rangers. A surprise attack that was quickly contained and defeated within 6 hours. Must have been on stand by.

Yes, it was a success. All dead terrorists, no blown up planes or people taken hostage. They were lucky they prevented the terrorists from entering the main terminal. Hundreds of people were there. All safe.

Pakistan has long since gone past the tipping point. While they will never admit to the same on open forums with thousands of Indians looking on, I chat privately with some Pakistanis regularly who openly lament the decision taken by their grandparents and great grand-parents and rue the fact that they were born in the wrong country.

The bunch of jokers who come as experts on our news channels from their side, mainly ex military and diplomatic corps, are as usual in denial and rhetoric mode.

When you go after terrorists they strike back. This strike shows that they are hitting the TTP where it hurts. To continue doing so is to endure even more attacks. Increases the costs of security significantly.

[bolo121]

I was very impressed by the way they were able to contain the attack and prevent entry into the main terminal.

[Officer of Engineers]

Now look for a Beslan. There are 100s of schools for girls in Pakistan ... and not enough angry relatives with AK47s.

[Oracle]

That is a hell of a reaction time by the army and rangers. A surprise attack that was quickly contained and defeated within 6 hours. Must have been on stand by.

May the brave and the dead RIP.

Btw, Sir, the bold part - you mean state managed or the ISI had intel of an impending attack?

[Neo]

May the brave and the dead RIP.

Btw, Sir, the bold part - you mean state managed or the ISI had intel of an impending attack?

Few months ago Peshawar Airport waa attacked and before that Airforce bases in Kamra and Mehran. I assume we have increased our preparedness, specially when we are bombing TTP hideouts in Waziristan. There will be.more attacks on high value targets but hats off to our elite forcess for talking out the terrorists in such a busy terminal.

[Officer of Engineers]

I don't know if they had prior intel but it was a very disciplined response. The RRF had clear lines of approach and knew the deposition of enemy forces. Airport security must have contained the first assault but still, the fact that you had a whole bunch of civies around (airport crews and passengers), my first reaction would have been not to engage but to find out who's where, trying to avoid blue on blue situations. In the history of these things, more people died by friendly fire than by anything else.

The only thing I can suggest is that this must be one of the scenarios they've always rehearsed in.

[Neo]

When you go after terrorists they strike back. This strike shows that they are hitting the TTP where it hurts. To continue doing so is to endure even more attacks. Increases the costs of security significantly.

TTP has already been broken in half as the Meshud group which accounted for half the TTP forces has split. There are some 5000 foreign paid mercenaries, mainly.Tajiks and Uzbeks figjting for TTP and even they are moving to Syria.

The attack at the airprt was a desperate measure by TTP to demonstrate their capabilities but it failed miserably.

[Officer of Engineers]

A Beslan is easy and these fucks ain't above hurting little girls.

[Double Edge]

TTP has already been broken in half as the Meshud group which accounted for half the TTP forces has split. There are some 5000 foreign paid mercenaries, mainly.Tajiks and Uzbeks figjting for TTP and even they are moving to Syria.

Imagine an asteroid coming at you and you splintered it. Now you have more bits still coming at you.

The attack at the airprt was a desperate measure by TTP to demonstrate their capabilities but it failed miserably.

To me its a progression from 26/11 (my frame of reference). Drive by shootings then hole up in a hotel and stage a grand last stand. Lots of visbility.

Here the aim is more specific, target a transport hub and paralyse a key transit point. people coming & going. Lots of people. Who is going to secure all these hubs. This is why leaders always try to defuse the situation with peace talks, does not matter if its serious or not, it means you get little more stability.

Short term thinking but that's what pols thrive on.

A Beslan is easy and these fucks ain't above hurting little girls.

Sadly yes and cheaper still. Where will the tipping point be ? The point where more attacks only strengthens the resolve of the people to go after the perps.

Lal masjid in 2007.

[Oracle]

Few months ago Peshawar Airport waa attacked and before that Airforce bases in Kamra and Mehran. I assume we have increased our preparedness, specially when we are bombing TTP hideouts in Waziristan. There will be.more attacks on high value targets but hats off to our elite forcess for talking out the terrorists in such a busy terminal.

Okay. But tell me something, how come the terrorists even wander so close to high value targets? Are there no security blankets? What do you think of insider help to the TTP?