At least 18 militants dressed in police uniform arrived at the airport in three high-roof cars in the wee hours of the morning. PHOTO: APP
At least 18 militants dressed in police uniform arrived at the airport in three high-roof cars in the early hours of the morning. The cars used were also made to look like they belonged to the police, with sirens and revolving lights.
The militants tried to enter the airport taking the DIG’s name, however, the security staff did not let them through stating they had received no information or letter regarding such an arrival.
Once the Airport Security Force (ASF) counter checked with police officials, they learned that the DIG was sleeping at his residence.
Details suggested that the militants had wireless technology to listen to communications between the ASF and police officials as they escaped the second they heard that the DIG was sleeping at his residence.
There was allegedly no time for any action, as the militants sped off once they learnt their ploy had been discovered.
A search operation is underway at the airport, the base and nearby residential areas in search of the militants. No information regarding their location has been found as of yet.
Warning administered
Like the Dera Ismail Khan Jail attack, intelligence agencies had already warned authorities in this regard. The National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) of the Interior Ministry, through two different threat alerts, conveyed the information to the police, Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), and Air Port Security Force (ASF) regarding foolproof security of these airports to foil the attack attempt by terrorists.
The contents of the threat alert based on a secret report, revealed that terrorists of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were planning to carry out attacks on PAF base Chaklala and Benazir Bhutto International airport in the lines of Mehran base.
According to the report, the attackers had already carried out a reconnaissance of PAF with the help of guests and labourers at the base. It also said that some local employees were collaborating with terrorists, while weapons and ammunition would be concealed using cargo companies and agencies.
Another intelligence report was also forwarded to the police, LEAs, ASF and other concerned authorities revealing that terrorist plan to carry out terrorist attacks against Chaklala Air Base and Benazir Bhutto International Airport in near future.
Security measures
Benazir Airport and Chaklala Air Base have been on red alert since last night and more security precautions are being undertaken.
As part of heightened security measures, only ticket-holding passengers are being allowed access into the Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
Since the runway is shared by both the airport and the base, it would have been easy for the militants to cross into the Chaklala Air Base.
COMMENTS (69)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732085354-0/insta-(1)1732085354-0-165x106.webp "article")
1725366721-0/kyle-(1)1725366721-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732085810-0/Copy-of-Untitled-(51)1732085810-0-270x192.webp "pakistan proposes twin city status for islamabad riyadh")
1732084955-0/Untitled-design-(64)1732084955-0-270x192.webp "saiful malook s snowy charm captivates visitors")
1732011525-0/Express-Tribune-(8)1732011525-0-270x192.webp "smog eases classes resume across punjab")
@Realist: The last I heard is there are training camps for them in Pakistan.Sure there is bound to be some foreign help, but in my entry I was just referring to their coming in and going out without being apprehended. When one has prior knowledge,that is the best time to apprehend the terrorists, as here and DI khan jail attack;close to 200 terrorists could have been eliminated had the security apparatus worked(actually not colluded with them).Instead you have another 250 murderers on the loose,and in a much more secure area.One can only imagine how many Pakistani this changezi horde is going to murder,and how many policemen and soldiers have to die now to apprehend them on their ground.It is not just security failure,it is complete collusion with them. And it is not foreign hand here,but the indigenous hand that is working with them.
The security missed two great opportunities to apprehend or kill the murderers of Pakistanis. There was information available that Terrorists were going to be at DI-jail and the airport. They could have been much easily handled there than now that they are up in hills,and about 250 more of them killers. God knows how many more Pakistani citizens are going to be murdered or maimed now by these beasts,and how many security personnel including police and army has to die before they are apprehended.
What kind of foreign hand could possibly have been involved in letting the terrorists in and out of a high security zone even after the information was available beforehand.Denial can be a good strategy to cope,but when it comes to this point,it can be fatal.
There are two groups of extremists on these forums --- (1) those who refuse to believe that foreign intelligence agencies actively support/fund/train/arm local insurgent/terrorist movements (delusional) and (2) those who attribute every tragedy/problem to these "foreign hands" (also delusional)... the truth is somewhere in the middle: there is definitely foreign support, but we are to blame for most of our internal problems.
@observer: smell something bad from the neighbor
totally baseless storey, militant comes on suicidal mission to damage property ,kill humans. what nonesense they were koward ran away seeing guard taking on walkie talkie... isn't strange........they didn't tried to barge in forcefully ,neither fire a single round. neither any barrikade able to stop them, no body ,not even a CCTV camera in such high security zone able to catch their glipse...
what none sense..
lol , he he he....................
dept thiks general public is fool..................
@asim: Not that outsiders cannot be and are not helping, but frequency scanners are very easily available on Amazon and online. You can purchase them at will and scan all of the police and LEA frequencies and then listen in on them. This is the reason that the Army is using "frequency hopping" radars now to avoid the TTP and for that matter any adversary from eavesdropping on their communication.
they are here to see off kerry......,!! ;-)
What scares me is that there are three truck loads of terrorists in the city right now, who have police uniforms and vehicles. May Allah help the forces capture them before they do any harm to innocents.
There is some thing very serious wrong with our security apprentice. Terrorist advance attack information was available, militants already used police uniform in K.P. Jail break not even 72-hrs ago, they come on police vehicles, airport has security check points n barrier every corner, even than these eighteen militants n their cars vanish in thin air. It's too much, interior minister, airport security services, DIG, area SP etc all needs to explain. This matter require SC Sou Moto immediately.
"As part of heightened security measures, only ticket-holding passengers are being allowed access into the Benazir Bhutto International Airport."
What if the terrorists decide to buy plane tickets? Rather than playing sitting ducks, our agencies need to take some strong action before a new attack takes place.
They are taking us for a ride!! Nothing happened...when it will happen it will be like DIKhan/Kamra etc and most of our security would hide in the drains...'They are tigers to the innocent civilians'..KP interior minister!
The story is fake. I arrived in the morning at 2.30 AM on an international airlines and was at the airport till 4.30 AM. The road on one side was completely blocked and the other side was dealing with traffic coming and going to Islamabad. There was a complete traffic jam and there were no media teams, perhaps they were sleeping at their places or were busy in creating the story. The whole place represented a chaotic situation and people/passengers were distressed and troubled as they had to walk long distances to reach to their vehicles. There were like 10-20 policemen on the airport and were so stupid that one of them mounted an AK-47 on a Shahzore truck and was ready to fight. Someone must challenge the intellect of these police officers that how come one AK 47 mounted on a vehicle can fight terrorists who have all sorts of latest weapons. It was a hoax and the police is trying to hide the incompetence it showed and the misery it created for passengers and people. Strangely, there was just Toyota pickup carrying 6-8 army men on the road. I don't understand the wisdom behind having just 6-8 army personnel to fight a contingent of heavily armed militants. How come the DIG was sleeping in such crucial situation. If he really was sleeping he should have been fired on the basis of misconduct and gross negligence given the so called "grave" situation.
If this is true!!! than this was a job well done!! but there was one loop hole in the whole effort due to which "MILITANTS" fled away that is, during investigation guards let the "Militant" feel free, I mean, Guard should have put the militant under siege until the investigation was complete.
This loop hole has to be fixed.....Over all job well done!!!!!
One can understand the attackers crossing various security checks using fake identity but How in the world could they flee when truth about them was disclosed????
Well done our security agencies, give them credit where its due
If this story is true, has it occurred to anyone that it could have been a planned assassination attempt? Kerry is in town to assist Pakistan get back on track, and would have to fly out of Islamabad airport. It would be very high profile for the enemies of the state. I do wish they were caught and they could have interrogated them, Pakistan style!
Why this news is not on Dawn? why only on tribune?
How could the terrorist escape from one of the most important and secure location in Pakistan? Army men, politicians, foreigners all use this airport. Its close to GHQ then how could they escape?
i dont think even it realy happened
Another security failure - how these militants were led to flee away. Why Chaudhry Nisar's resignation has not been called?
Allah is on our side, and he saved us from this. God forbid, had this happened, innocent families waiting for their loved ones would have suffered.
ridiculous Story the terrorist ran away or allowed to run away how come no shots were fired at fleeing vehicles and how come not even one vehicle was caught it. I mean how can a Vehicle that has come to a Stand still at a check post manage go turn around and run away from a armed convoy. Some hopeless denilaistan
@Usman Chatta:
"How are the militants getting such advanced technologies? Crazy conspiracies about our neighbours may be relevant after all…"
Marconi invented radio towards the end of 19th century.
They should have been stopped for "Peace Talks".
Could have easily been another victory day for Talibans.
We need to learn from Egypt and show no mercy against the terrorists. People who support and sympathise with the Taliban should also be dealt with very harshly. It is depressing to know that there is support from insiders as well. We should keep people under constant surveillance who favour Taliban specially in sensitive institutions since they are a possible security threat. Even Bangladesh is pushing back the fanatics.
Attack averted : GREAT WORK the terrorists escaped: TOTAL CRAP, why were they not encircled in the meantime? Where were the helicopters based at Chaklala Base??? SHAMEFUL
@Babablacksheep: And still Imran Khan wants to negotiate with these terrorists.
Hope its not true and it was just an exercise to check security measures. If its true and Militants have reached to this point, then please give us their contact info. We civilians also want to surrender before its too late.
The funniest/saddest part is that the militants were able to speed away from a high security zone without getting caught. What is wrong with our security forces
It's amazing that the militants were able to escape unscathed despite the fact that they were in a secure area and the guards had become suspicious. Pathetic state of security situation prevails.
@Usman Chatta:
What nonsense. You underestimate the will of militants. No wonder they've been so successful while we sit there like ducks waiting to be shot.
This is some scary stuff... why couldnt our ASF personnel and poilce capture those criminals red handed, how could they let them drive off so conveniently man!! ughhh
Torture the crap out of them, squeeze every bit of information out and then rid this scum from the world. No need to humanely treat them.
This was reported yesterday that there was hi alert on Islamabad Airport and if so why were the militants not chased and apprehended Strange things are happening which is confusing the whole nation
Criticisms only come from low level minds, cant you people see the positive side of the story ?? A big terrorist attempt to attack Isb airport and air base was foiled by the security !!
How hard can it be to spot and catch three highroof cars with sirens and revolving lights and 18 bearded policemen sitting inside?!?!?!?!??!
Talk to TTP they say, there will be "peace" in the country, they say. and this is what you get back, they never say.
Two words "pre-emptive strikes" is the solution. Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan must stop playing friendly opposition with the extremists.
the most depressing point is that neither nawaz nor imran has any intention to deal with is CANCER
Just wondering what some people amongst us must be going through after being deprived of some drama and thrill which must have involved loss of precious lives.
Shame on this govt. Govt is purposly acheiving the mission of our enemies.
This is inside job, to create problems for new Government of PMLN ... upcoming 5 years will be most worst than previous ...
How can one lose 3 high roofs full of militants in a garrison city? Mind-boggling!
@usman Chatta: the conspiracy theories aint true. Sadly our law enforcement agencies are using obsolete technologies that can easily be intercepted.
It is stange they escaped
"Details suggested that the militants had wireless technology to listen to communications between the ASF and police officials as they escaped the second they heard that the DIG was sleeping at his residence."
It's so funny that the militants were able to escape from one the country's most important airport, after when their plot was detected!
And yet again they vanished into thin air.
Is this a country or a shooting arena for a film?
This is not a "success," just fortunate. Howcome not even a shot ws fired to stop them from fleeing? The terrorists should have been apprehended, and that is the ultimate failure of the country's security apparatus.
The militants flee from the scene with ease. Were they ghosts?
They should have been arrested ! Another failure
After every single attack they are feeling more determined, An immediate inquiry should be held of this incident.
they ran away? wow, with so much army standing in that area. Our security agencies are so in-efficient.
One passes through several checkposts before reaching the airport. How were these vehicles able to pass through? Indeed, there are so many "security convoys" that the guards at these check posts simply allows these speeding vehicle to pass through unchecked.
And Senator Kerry's flight landed at this airport last night. How r the militants privy to his arriival time. This is serious security lapse but credit should b given to the officers on duty.
This security person deployed at the airport should be rewarded for his bravery and wit along with that he should also be given security as militants may attack him or others for ruining their plan.
Its quite clear with the high tech devices these militants have, that they are funded by external countries.
Only a delusional person would disagree .
"There was allegedly no time for any action" (such as firing at the fleeing cars THAT HAD TO TURN AROUND IN THE BASE ENTRANCE PORTAL TO GET AWAY!!!!)
No lessons learnt. The intel is there but no meaningful result from it. We leave too many things to God it seems.
What nonsense is this?! What is happening in this country? Every day scores of people are being killed by the militants. This is reaching a tipping point. The balance has to shift... NOW!
What is this state upto? wake up Government !! there could be complete chaos, given that Kerry is in the country.
How are the militants getting such advanced technologies? Crazy conspiracies about our neighbours may be relevant after all...