Armed and ready: Anti-terror mock exercise held at BKIA

PESHAWAR:

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) participated in a mock exercise to deter a possible militant attack following threat alerts specific to the Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA) in the city.

The alerts had been issued by intelligence agencies which warned airport authorities of a possible rocket attack. As a result, security was tightened and the number of personnel deployed at the facility also increased.

“We received a threat from agencies and have taken it seriously since the airport has come under attack in the past,” a senior airport security official told The Express Tribune, requesting anonymity.

He said the boundary of the BKIA is being protected by the armed forces while protecting the facility’s premises is the Airport Security Force’s job. He added the armed forces have been patrolling roads leading to the airport from all four sides.

“Rockets were fired in the past from different areas, but mostly from nearby tribal villages. The security forces traced the culprits and arrested them,” he said.

Another PAF official also confirmed that an exercise was being held after reports of a possible attack surfaced.  He commented, “This time the exercise was held by the PAF while other forces, including the ASF, were not involved.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2016.