Combating terror: Quick response force put in place

Government adamant on securing defense installations as 16 terrorist attacks have took place on them since 2009.

ISLAMABAD:

The government on Wednesday informed a parliamentary panel that it had deployed a quick response force at all defence installations in the wake of increased terrorist attacks on sensitive locations in recent years.

Defense Secretary Lieutenant General (retd) Asif Yasin Malik told the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence that 16 terrorist attacks targeting the country’s sensitive installations have taken place since 2009.

Briefing members of the committee during a closed door session, the defence secretary disclosed that action had been taken against military personnel who were found to be involved in these attacks. However, he did not provide any further details.

The committee, headed by Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, was informed that the attacks on Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases in Kamra and Peshawar were the deadliest in recent times.

Terrorists stormed the PAF base in Kamra in August last year. The Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft was destroyed in the assault while 10 attackers were also killed, according to Gen Malik.  The AWACS aircraft was valued at Rs25 billion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2013.