The Pakistan Army has ended the clearance operation at the Pakistan Air Force and at least nine militants have been killed, news agency Reuters reported. This comes after Pakistan-based terrorist group Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) attacked a Pakistan Air Force Base in Mianwali in Punjab on Saturday morning, CNN-News 18 reported, citing people familiar with the developments. Several fighter planes were damaged in the attack.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Army said that it gunned down three terrorists in response to a series of attacks in the country, including in an airbase, that left at least 17 soldiers dead. Other incidents include a remote-controlled bomb explosion in Dera Ismail Khan and a security operation in KP’s Lakki Marwat. Another fourth incident remote-controlled blast in Dl Khan that left 5 dead and at least 24 injured.
“On Nov 4, 2023, in the early hours of the day, Mianwali Training Air Base of Pakistan Air Force came under a failed terrorist attack which, Alhumdollilah, due to the swift and effective response by the troops, has been foiled and thwarted, ensuring the safety and security of personnel and assets,” the army's public relations wing, Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement, according to a report by Dawn.
It said that the three alleged terrorists were “neutralised while entering the base while the remaining three terrorists have been cornered/isolated due to timely and effective response by the troops”. “However, during the attack, some damage to three already grounded aircraft and a fuel bowser also occurred,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, at least five people were killed and over 20 sustained injuries in a blast that occurred in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Pakistan, news agency ANI reported, citing Samaa TV. Following the explosion in Tank Adda in Ponda Bazar of DI Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emergency measures were put in place in hospitals nearby.
As per initial media reports, the explosive device was planted on a motorcycle. Sounds of gunfire were reported at the site of the incident, SAMAA TV reported, citing authorities. The KP bomb disposal unit as well as law enforcement officials immediately arrived on site after the explosion.