No one was hurt in the pre-dawn attack and it was unclear who fired the nine rockets from behind a mosque in mountains overlooking the Kakul academy.
The garrison city of Abbottabad was considered one of the safest parts of nuclear-armed Pakistan until American special forces on May 2 found and killed the al Qaeda founder in a compound where he apparently lived for five years.
Three rockets on Friday damaged the outer wall of the academy, which is just 500 metres (yards) from the site of the US Navy SEALs raid that seriously damaged already turbulent relations between Pakistan and the United States.
"Nine rockets were fired. Three rockets hit the boundary wall of the military academy and damaged it. No one was hurt in the attack," Imtiaz Hussain Shah, a top local government official in Abbottabad told AFP.
"We have launched a search operation," Shah added.
Mohammad Karim Khan, Abbottabad police chief, confirmed the attack.
"Three rockets hit the boundary wall. Three others landed in an open area and three others landed in a field," he said.
Officials blamed terrorists for the attack.
Shah told TV channel Geo that police had recovered nine rocket-launching pads behind a mosque, about 500 metres from the academy.
"We have a security system and checkpoints on the roads, but the place they used as a launch pad is accessible from all sides and there are mountains at the back of this place," he said.
"At this stage we cannot say who was involved, but they are terrorists and we are investigating how they managed to reach this place."
Taliban and other militants are fighting an insurgency against the army, although there has been a marked decline in violence in recent months.
Considered one of the quietest towns in the northwest, nestled in pine-dotted hills and popular with day-trippers from the capital, Abbottabad is listed on Pakistan's official tourism website as a "popular summer resort".
But although it is mainly tranquil, it is close to more troubled areas.
A judicial commission is investigating how bin Laden managed to live undetected in Pakistan for so long, and whether there was any government or military collusion.
Pakistani-US ties have since reached a new low over US air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers last November, leading Pakistan to shut its Afghan border to Nato supplies and conduct a review of its alliance with Washington.
COMMENTS (44)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732621030-0/Express-Tribune-(7)1732621030-0-270x192.webp "won t leave until imran khan orders us to k p cm gandapur")
1732622842-0/Express-Tribune-(9)1732622842-0-270x192.webp "pakistan belarus to fast track bilateral agreements sign multiple mous")
1725254039-0/Untitled-design-(24)1725254039-0-270x192.webp "hidden hand blocking pti s dialogue efforts mohsin naqvi")
1732617223-0/Untitled-design-(69)1732617223-0-270x192.webp "pti protestors reach islamabad s d chowk amid tense clashes")
@US CENTCOM: It is important to understand that these so called Islamist in Pakistan want territory for them like the clergy in Iran.Army is the only hindrance in their way.All banned outfits got together under religious political parties in recent gatherings in Karachi and Lahore under the pretext of Defence of Pakistan which is the responsibility of the Army.America must understand that and get out of Afghanistan to save the people of Pakistan from this threat.
@Akhtar: "1Only when we start following true Islam all these thing will stop. Allah, the merciful will be Muslims when all of us follow sharia’t, the law laid by HIM. We take orders from kuffa’r" May I ask what is "TRUE ISLAM"? Out of 1.6 billion Muslims how many you think are following "TRUE ISLAM"? Do you think Muslims are not following "TURE ISLAM" because so called Kuffar is putting pressure on Muslims not to follow "TRUE ISLAM". You forgot to mention "We take billions of free AID from kufar". Your country chose its best friend (China) who are communist. If you read taliban history, you will see MUSLIMS all over the world were happy/gloated to see talibans and thought finally some one has took a step to bring "true Islam"?
RAW?
Only when we start following true Islam all these thing will stop. Allah, the merciful will be Muslims when all of us follow sharia't, the law laid by HIM. We take orders from kuffa'r & these things will remain. Inshallah, we realize the true path soon!
@Azqar Khan: What???..........Japan has no military budget??? New info......then it was probably some other country who has highest defence expenses as per Capita income.....
This should not be happening. Security forces governed by Civilian government is the key for peaceful environment. Support your government. Don't support the extremists.
@Palvasha von Hassell: Well Pakistan could have stopped after Soviest were defeated, but Pakistan chose to play talibans in Afghanistan to get stretegic depth. Pakistan treats Afghanistan like its own backyard.
@S Khan:
They're partly funded by stealing from us Pakistanis...extortion and protection money from drivers and suppliers, kidnapping ransoms, bank robberies in urban cities, lootings (mobiles, car jacking etc), smuggling (illegal gems and minerals mining, counterfeit, little drug money, etc).
There's funding from corrupt or scared contractors in Afghanistan (from the same US and international aid). Also foreign funding from Gulf Arab states (in Jundullah's case, Israel for some time).
@ahmed: Your stating the obvious. Just surprised it took them so long to actually have such a PR program. Wonder what their presence is in Urdu or other Pak dialect medium newspapers.
The Taliban have the upper hand in propaganda in the region, where it matters. They're tech savvy and creative, producing even catchy militant songs on CD's in remote areas. Of course no one seems to register they would hypocritically and brutally ban such stuff and freedoms once they come to power. You would hope their DVD recordings of sadistic torture and butchery of kidnap victims would generate mass disgust as well. Sadly no. They have their extremist sympathizers, defenders and supporters even on these comment forums.
Cowars trying to defame the Pak military to please their masters in Afghanistan and India.
So they want to talk to the Taliban. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? Call me Pakistan Army.
@ US Centcom As long as these 'ruthless terrorists' are being funded by 'God alone knows whom', such attacks will go on!
Terrorism had not been a problem in this country until the US/NATO forces attacked and occupied Afghanistan ten years ago. Pakistan became a front-line state in this war against terrorism and was also accepted as a non-NATO Ally. Our civilian population and security forces suffered huge number of casualties through suicide attacks and acts of terrorism. An unknown group called TTP (Tahriq e Talaban Pakistan) accepted responsibilities for most of these attacks. Initially, we were made to believe that this was our war which was generally believed by our people at large.It is now well known and acknowledged by all and sundry that, most of these attacks have been planned, funded and monitored by RAW, Mosad and CIA through the TTP, to mold public opinion. Pakistan media and our public opinion has now come of age. The sacrifices and huge financial costs borne by this country have been acknowledged by more attacks and violation of even our national sovereignty and pride. We are prepared to cooperate in this war with any country, but only as an equal partner and on certain terms and conditions and not otherwise. Pressure has been brought upon our Armed Forces and ISI all along to do things not in our national interest. Enough is enough. US must realize, that they have lost whatever little public support the had from our people. We feel badly let down and hurt by our ally.
This is an attempt to publicly humiliate the military -- seems to be working.
It seems nothing is safe from these ruthless terrorists, not even a military academy. We are glad that no one was hurt in this attack but all the same it shows the true face of the terrorists who are bent on the destruction of Pakistan. Attacks like these are all the more reason for us to get together and resolve our differences. Together we have achieved much in defeating terrorism. That has always been our common goal, so it is time to get back to the basics and go full force after these enemies of peace. Till we do that, attacks like these will not cease. Therefore, the focus needs to remain on eliminating the threat that continues to plague the region. Our combined efforts will only help us defeat terrorism sooner rather than later.
Maj David Nevers DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
@BS.Detecter: Somebody said you are talking to TTP for peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.
Is this a bad dream or what? Seriously, PMA got attacked? shudders
What is wrong with mighty Pakistan army? There was Abottabad attack, Mehran raid, Salala incident, soldiers are kidnapped from their forts and fortifications and assasinated and now this incident. In their response to Supreme Court of Pakistan, MOD stated that civilian government of Pakistan does not control the Military. Who is the in-charge for handling this mess?
Now THIS is something to be really worried about.
@Ahsan:
Your comment is so spot on...so much damage has been done by patronage of jihadi elements. Don't forget, though, why their fostering and encouragement began in the first place...to get dollars from the Americans, who couldn't care less what happened to Pakistani society, as long as they could humiliate the Soviets in Afghanistan. We should not have enabled that project, instead of getting hired.
@Azqar Khan: This is what our enemy wants i.e to create wedge between public and army. This is exactly the emeny has been telling us. Please look the other side of events. Why our army only, why ? Becuase this is the only institution left in country. My dear undersatnd the game !
Oh my God. What a sad news. May Allah Almighty bless upon us. (ameen)
@omer: who is seeking extensions?
I am wondering how easy it is Pakistan to obtain, store, set up and fire the rockets and that too near Military academy. I there anything called secure?
@Azqar Khan:
Its better for Pakistan & Pakistanis to try and save themselves now instead of thinking about Kashmir...
As you sow, so shall you reap........
Militancy was never a workable solution for the Kashmir issue. Our country as a whole is obsessed with Kashmir issue and India. There are other problems in our country for instance the use of IEDs by militants. Instead of focusing on others non-issues, we should devise a plan to check the free movement of fertilizers that are used in the preparation of IEDs.
Wake up wake uppppppp…………. Pakistani Military!!!
Did the attackers again come riding Stealth Helicopters under cover of Radar Failure? Or was this friendly fire from strategic assets?
Irony is that, until OBL was living there, Abbotabad used to be a safest and peaceful place !!!
Abbotabad used to be a open minded, welcoming society tll the mid 90s. The Jihad project of the generals resulted in setting up of a network of madrassas in the area and politically/socially strong mullah brigade. With state support the mullahs changed the dynamics of the society which is far more narrow minded and hostile now. Many of us infact do not even remember what Abbotabad,Mansehra,Thandiani used to be like in those days. The frankenstein that the generals created had is out of control now.
National security is way down on army's priority list. Politics, businesses and constructions etc are the main interests in Pakistan Army Corporation Limited.
Is this a joke? Seriously, they attacked PMA???
When you meddle with other countries internal affairs, sure they will backfire. Terrorism is a double edged sword and by keeping it as a state policy to gain strategic depth has began to show its ill effects.
They cant protect themselves and they cant protect our sovereignty and they cant protect us.... They are just usurping our money in the form of taxes! Either become Japan like economy with no military expenditure OR become Iran like sovereign state!
Wake up wake uppppppp............. Pakistanis!!!
They are busy in all sorts of matter, except those relating to security. What a joke. Isn't it?
That's Not Good !! Not Good At All !!!
Such security breaches are bound to happen when top generals are busy pursuing extensions and memo's
No doubt the terrorism is growing and spreading in Pakistan by some miscreants/enemies of Pakistan and the reasons behind it may be the extreme killings and slaughters of innocent people on the name of fake terrorism.
So a few miscreants have fired some rockets in a mountainous area around Abbottabad. We all know that anti state criminals are active in many parts of the nation and they gain ready access through the border with Afghanistan. Pakistan needs to close the border to Afghanistan completely with a fence or wall.