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Kamra attack: 'Minimal damage, militant deaths clear proof of preparedness'
We challenged militants on different parameters; one soldier posted at security tower was martyred, says Qamar.
We challenged militants on different parameters; one soldier posted at security tower was martyred, says Qamar. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Hours after a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base in Kamra was attacked, Defence Minister Naveed Qamar said that the death toll of the militants and the minimal damage caused to the base is clear proof of the preparedness of the forces.
The attack by militants on the PAF airbase and operation by security forces lasted for over four hours in which at least eight militants and one security official were killed. The base was attacked during the early hours of Thursday.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Qamar said, “The security of the air force was alert to retaliate in case of a possible attack and they did. We challenged the militants on different parameters, in which one of our soldiers who was posted at the security tower was martyred.”
“They had suicide vests clasped around them and were carrying heavy weaponry. They had attacked the base with an intention of having a do or die battle. However, with minimum damage caused to the base – with only one plane destroyed – the security forces were able to eliminate the terrorists.”
The defence minister said that the actual number of militants involved in the attack can only be ascertained once the inquiry is concluded.
When asked whether the attack was a result of an intelligence failure, he said that such attacks could only be defended to a certain extent and that the base is located in an urban residential area which always poses a threat of a possible infiltration.
Responding to a question regarding moving the complex away from the residential area, Qamar said it is not easy to move such big complexes that are built with massive investments. However, he said that the idea of sifting the complex will be reviewed.
The base is home to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex that assembles Mirage and, with Chinese support, JF-17 fighter jets. It has previously come under attack twice, once in 2007 and then in 2009.
Qamar revealed that no arrests were made.
When asked about the security steps taken after Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan had threatened to attack military bases, he said, “Everyone did what they were supposed to do. The security forces challenged the militants and eliminated them. These are actually what you call security steps.”
Disengage from war on terror: Imran Khan
Putting the blame of an early morning attack on a PAF airbase in Kamra on the army fighting war on terror for United States, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said that Pakistan needs to disengage itself from the war and then should consider launching military offensives.
Speaking to the media at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Khan said that every now and then, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta gives statements and it appears as if the Pakistan Army is “deaf and dumb.”
“People will say that it is a rented army and we take money from the US to fight their wars.”
He said that a military offensive carried out in North Waziristan will have its implications on Pakistan, including a rise in terror attacks and will threaten the national security.
Expressing grief over the attack, Khan said that the civilian government should take responsibility of a democratic government and if it cannot do so, then it should hold elections. “The government proclaims that it is a democratic government, however, it refuses to take responsibility of the situation in Balochistan and FATA.”
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Reader Comments (57)
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Prepared?! If they were prepared that attack would never have manifested. Who are you fooling minister? Please go back to sleep, you are not making any sense, as usual.
This is a sad story. If the (reactive) level of security after the attack was the same as one before the attack, since the intelligence of an impending attack was already available, this would never have happened.
This is sad reflection on the state of affairs. They never stop chest thumping, even when it is time for serious reflection, review and inquisition.
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These attacks are bound to happen and it is of our own making. Our borders are porous and Law and Order situation across the country is terrible(including the main urban cities). We need to seal our border and clamp down on weapons we have within country. It is very easy for fanatics/militants/vulnerable people to get hold of them. Gun culture (kalashankhov flaunting) is rife and people of all sorts have them legal and illegal. They see it as a symbol of strength but in reality it all leads to increase in criminal and militant activity. It is very easy to create chaos here in any city/town with these weapons, on civilian and military targets. So, wise decision would be to take an action on it now
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That ‘only one plane destroyed’ better not be a SAAB-Erieye because its worth more than several fighter jets. Also, I don’t think it was destroyed, only damaged.
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Excellent and prompt response from the security force. However, questions arises on the UN-ability of intelligence agencies n on guard security alertness (how these militants even manage to get inside the base) These questions needs to be answered and guilty ones must face consequences.
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soo now our Govt is accepting the attacks as routine matter and covering up their incompetency by saying “Minimal Damage ”
shame on you
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Why not use taser guns / non-lethal weapons and arrest these terrorists ALIVE for questioning?
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only ONE aircraft DESTROYED. It must be worth hundreds of millions… he is saying as if one cycle or car got destroyed…
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Weldone PAF and Pak Army. The best part is the elimination of all the attackers. Better kill them than producing them in courts. Donot declare the arrested one. After interrogation, they too should be XXX.
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The problem lies with the base commander, who now has been injured (apparently a bullet wound) would be declared a hero and would ensure that any investigation would not hold him accountable.
At the end of the day, base security ultimately rests with the base commander — the buck stops with him. Intelligence of an impending attack was already out. So the preventive security was not adequate.
Imagine only eight (8) people challenged the entire security apparatus for more than 3 hours. Something is wrong with this picture. They damaged a plane, and destroyed other assets.
I am confident that the PAF is downplaying to avoid further embarrassment.
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6 Millitants against PAF base, it takes put army 4 hours to eliminate, loose a Jaan and a multi hundred million dollar plane! The minister calls it success! Am I day dreaming?
Given the location of complex, security should be on ultra high. There is history of attacks on this installment, need we say more?
By the way, do we realist they were 6, against the whole base of however many Security personnel? Also loss of hundreds of millions of dollars(the aircraft) is no preparedness it’s pathetic!
PK army is far from prepared, as long they receive 80% of budget allocation they’re content! What’s a plane? US had limitless resources, we’d always get more grant!! PATHETIC!
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Ok security at the base did a great job however still the militants penetration inside the base is worrisome despite of intelligence in advance. Too many civilian contractors visit Kamra on daily basis so there should be biometrics authentication right at the entrance. This base has been attacked twice so by now the security parameter should had been installed 3-4 km around the base.
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What about the mininal preparedness of our intelligence agencies, Sir?
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What about the minimal preparedness of our intelligence agencies, Sir?
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Very excilent Pak air foarce reaction and operation against millitantsRecommend
We expect India to move on 26/11 just as pakistan has moved on from this attack.
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It is important to form a national task force for targeting all anti Pakistan Elements through national Anti terror Task force which should comprise of members of provincial and city Police officers, SSG commandos and intelligence officials under the supervision of military courts. This is the only quick solution otherwise Pakistan will Sink. Those who resist this solution must be booked for treason because this should have been done before.
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Every base has a FIU ( field investigation unit ) to gather intellegence around the base.It is intel failure…minister Sb…accept it & resign…oh ! I forgot…there is part of our culture where resignation is not even heard of…Recommend
Somebody tell this genius minister that they came prepared to die. So nothing great there. Also it is a total intelligence failure.
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We should encourage our forces no doubt but the question arises how the terrorists entered the base? Somebody to explain to the nation. A thorough investigation by Military intelligence is required.
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How easy it is for Qamar sb to take all the credit! If something had gone terribly wrong, he would have blamed the Armed forces!
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The preparedness was high no doubt but not of forces but of militants who managed to penetrate high security area.
If the forces are in this state of preparedness then wish the civilians best of luck.
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This is a good eye opener that where the Professionalism is thriving in PAF and in Our Armed forces in General.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/331525/from-kamra-to-karachi-via-the-chinese-military-debuts-in-the-handheld-market/Recommend
@Asif MF Bhutto:
Dear Asif,
I have only one request to make, please dont step into someone elses domain and that too once you don’t know anything about it. Just commenting on an attack sitting inside a room and facing one are two different things. Seems as if you have some personal scores to settle. Wonder you even have an iota of understanding of the factual state of affairs in country. Dont just follow the PAID biased media. Long live PAF and long live Pakistan.
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The jihadi assets have turned against their masters! Not for the first time though. The Afghan ‘jihad’ against the soviets was funded by US dollars and the ‘mujahids’ then decided to kill innocent people in the USA.Recommend
@aussie paki…plz get your figures straight…please explain how army gets 80 % of the budget???
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So what happens when these ‘jihadis’ attack and capture a nuclear facility. We may have to call in the US seals to deal with them like they did with Mr Laden.
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All’s well that ends well. Now can I have my samosa and chai?
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The terrorists’ trade of the drug (Heroine) and smuggling, in the name of divinity, is dying. So they have resorted to kill their creators. Opium existed even 10,000 years ago in Af-Pak region but Heroine did not before 1980′s. Thanks to Acetic anhydride or “Allah”?
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Someone tell Imran Khan that these attacks are the very reason we should attack Waziristan and all other spots of anti-Pakistan camps. If India attacked, would Imran say we should start getting friendly with India?
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hmmm… he said, “with only one plane destroyed”.
so what was the worth of that one plane?
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It really put a question mark on the performance for Intelligence institutions. Yet we should support them.Recommend
it z claerly lack of alertness of our force..it is wake up ..otherwise …u will sleep for ever..all bases and installations should be cordened atleast 2km from original bountru to declare it no mans land..terrorist should be militry trialed devoid of any plea of humanity ..they are not humans .. They be treated as traitors and anti state actors .. They b killed after intensive interogation if they apprehended alive …for Allah sake ….wake up our defenders…Recommend
Attack on Kamran base by militants is a minor incident in a guerilla warfare. Salute to Air Force Securuty staff particularly the brave Base commander Air cdr Azam who also got a bulled injury has become a symbol and an example of bravery for the Armed Forces Of Pakistan. All the terrorists were killed wearing suiside jackets but non have been exploded. This shows that security staff did an excellent job.unfortunately still some Pakistani politicians says that it is not our war. We lost 5000 inocent Pakistani citizens and five thousand brave officers and soldiers by the Arabs Alquaida and their local militants partners. They destroyed our schools,mosques and markete. They terrorise the whole nation. Our leaders live very comfortably in Islamabad or Lahore, they go for medical treatment abroad, their children are getting education in Europe. They say that there will be backlash if there is operation in Waziristan. Are the people of FATA ARE NOT PAKISTANIS? They are being killed like sitting ducts. 700 PUKHTU elders were targeted killed in FATA. Presently two million Pukhtun are living in tents as IDP’C.. We must stand by our Armed Forces to eliminate terrorism.
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@Ameer: what more do you need guys, Intelligence agencies had already given report of a possible attack on an AirForce base five days ago.
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The nation demands the resignation of the defense minister over the loss of men and material during the terrorist’s attack, at the Air Force base Kamra.
Mr. Defense Minister, if it’s not a security lapse then is it a security proof that a very precious plane has been hit and set ablaze, inside the complex? How much more damage do u think was sufficient to admit that it was a security lapse?
Mr. Defense Minister, don’t hide yourself behind the statement that it was not a security lapse. And as an honourable man, you must resign immediately, for the nation’s loss of men and material, right inside the heart of the military complex Kamra.
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As expected, Imran bhai blames the Pakistan military for causing damage to its own installations and assets. He conveniently exonerates the attackers in this childish blame game. Gives me chills to imagine him in any sort of position of responsibility.
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@john425: We expect India to move on 26/11 just as pakistan has moved on from this attack.”"
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What you say would make any sense if the attackers were from India.
Since that is not the case what you say is 100% nonsensical.
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Pakistan is a failed state and the Pakistanis are a failed people.
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The Pak minister has made a correct statement since its most commendable that the base was well defended with minimal losses both in terms of costly equipment and human lives. However, it is matter of great concern that militants are able to penetrate inside cities and towns for which the army has to be more vigilant and who should raid their hideouts to prevent such attacks.
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I don’t agree with IK and why he always tries to defend militants.I think he has double personality. He he is pro Taliban / TTP. Army should kill these so called Islam kay rakhwalay. Want a peaceful and secured Pakistan.
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So taking 4 hours to defeat 8 militants and allowing them to blow up a high tech plane is a victory?
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@ Asif MF Bhutto (Ram Prakash, whoever..)
Why did you not demand the resignation of your Naval/Army/Police Chiefs when your ‘jewel in the crown’ Mumbai was successfully infiltrated and continuously attacked for THREE DAYS??
Ok guys.. do you see the pattern here on ExT? The moment there is a garma garm news about Pakistan, some indian disguising himself behind a Muslim name would come here and start to bombard us with anti-Pakistan remarks. This is followed by a number of other indians who are quick to RECOMMEND those comments.
If you indians can thump your chest after YOUR SPECTACULAR INTEL, NAVY, ARMY AND POLICE FAILURE IN MUMBAI, we have all the reason to thump our chest coz we killed those terrorists WITHIN 4 HOURS..
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Mr Imran are you with us or with the enemy history will decide that you have failed in elections due to your sympathy with TTP
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PPP failed to appoint not a single Defence Minister, neither anyone of them was qualified nor fit fornthis job. Pl open tender this job n PPP might be able to find one.
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Roll backing of Taliban project is already started in some area and will be completed After the departure of USA+NATO Army from Afghanistan(before 2015). China and Russia also satisfied and appreciated the out comes of Taliban project.Recommend
@Cautious:
I don’t think this guy is telling the whole truth about damage and army personal killed.
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PAF….a symbol of pride for the nation……….fizaon mein haibat k yalghar ham..
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A VERY SEVERE SECURITY BREACH, especially if the intelligence agencies had pre-warned.
Was there no lesson learnt from previous attacks on defencive installations?
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Pakistan is the 5th biggest army in the world,It is shameful to talk that we had we had minimum damage. question for defence minister? How 9 infiltrators entered in the complex? How they were holding for 4 hrs.? They knew in side of complex> who helped them? Defence minster must resign.
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No matter how strong the defense or the intelligence was, it is not easy for anyone to defend a surprise attack.Look what is happening in Afghanistan, even the best military of the world is not being able to counter the attacks on its soldiers and bases So, I think the soldiers on duty does deserve our salutations.
We need to nip the evil in the bud. We need to infiltrate the terrorists groups and fight this war in a different way. Pakistan cant win this war using the conventional ways. If It was that easy, we would have nuked the area. This war is between two different ideologies. We need to come up with something good in order to counter the Radical Ideology.
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Taliban have more than 20,000 fedayeen.no force on earth can fight them.
Taliban seems to do anything in Pakistan.they attack come as A message to army chief statement to allow north waziristan attack.Recommend
I think if we start operation in north wazir then we might see a revolt in the armed forces.
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Please, THIS IS A GREAT DAY FOR PAKISTAN!
Once again, THE PLAN TO DEFEND THE AIRBASE WORKED! The attackers were detected by the base security teams, and the battle ensued during the night.
The attackers were killed with minimal loses in material and personnel by the defenders!
The TTP took credit for the attack, and as usual claimed that “dozens of army personnel were killed by valiant Taliban warriors! NOT!
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Imran Khan shame on you again. You fear these terrorists will do more damage to country if we carry out NWA ops. so be it. atleast we will ensure the NWA is no more a safe haven for TTP like groups being remotely controlled by their indian mentors and yours friends in NWA will be well taken care of. i was a big fan of yours but your stance on TTP and the terrorists in FATA has dalienated me from your party and i will not support the TTP lovers in the upcoming elections.
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All the people actually blame the army and other services for negligence. The fact is that when we are fighting a war, we have to be ready for all the nasty situations. These people are attacking Pakistan and they are ready to die for whatever aims and goals they have to set for themselves. Its a great loss to the attackers that they well coordinated attack failed miserably, because one man Asif shaheed reacted in time and the fir fight started, before the terrorists could inflict damage to human life and military equipment at a large scale. Actually, we are fightiny a proxy war with them
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india need not worry about pak air bases or planes and weapons. one by one it is getting destroyed without a single indian bullet fired.
Bharat ZindabadRecommend
At-least the outcome was much better than the one we saw in the Mehran debacle. Where if the Navy chief and the Navy Commander Karachi had any self respect they would have resigned, given the shame caused not just to Navy or Armed Forces but to the entire nation. Instead few junior level officers were made the escape goats whereas the incompetent continue to rule.
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