Karachi: After a 13-hour intense gun battle, the brazen attack on Karachi international airport by Taliban militants disguised as security forces ended on Monday, leaving 29 people dead, including all the 10 terrorists who were planning for a lengthy siege of the key facility.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack which began just before midnight.
“We carried out this attack on the Karachi airport and it is a message to the Pakistani government that we are still alive to react over the killings of innocent people in bomb attacks on their villages,” TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said in a statement. He said that the attack was also carried out to avenge the killing of former TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike.
After regaining control of the sprawling airport, spokesman for the paramilitary Rangers Sibtain Rizvi, said, “The attack is over and we have cleared the area.”
Karachi airport has been reopened for passengers and all flight operations have been resumed after 17 hours, said Major General Asim Bajwa, director general inter-services public relations (ISPR).
According to reports, 11 ASF personnel, two Rangers officials, one cop and four PIA officials are among the dead. One of the security personnel died in the attack is yet to be identified. No passengers were injured in the attack.
