ISLAMABAD: Fours days after a terror attack on the Naval Dockyard in Karachi, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said that the insurgents could not have carried out the assault without inside help.
Addressing the joint session of Parliament, the defence minister revealed details about the attack, saying that three miscreants were killed and among them was an ex-Naval officer who was discharged in May last year.
Expressing concern over revealing details about the incident as this may jeapordise investigation, Asif remarked that it was an isolated incident.
He also stated that the attack was a blowback of the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan.
"It was a successful operation as all the attackers were either killed or arrested," the minister stated, revealing that seven of the miscreants were under custody.
He further stated that no damage was done to any of the installations.
Asif also revealed that four 30-bore pistols, five 9mm pistols, two satellite phones, four suicide jackets, two detonators, 24 handcuffs and seven religious books were recovered from the attackers.
The minister also said that several of the security personnel were injured while trying to foil the attack, adding that a petty officer was also killed.
Samungli airbase attack
Speaking about the August attack on Pakistan Air Force’s Samungli airbase in Quetta, the defence minister said no security personnel were killed in the assault, adding that no assets were damaged.
He further stated that this attack was also a reaction to Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
Narrating details about the attack, Asif said that it started at 9:45pm on August 14 and suspicious activity was seen in a naala nearby via night vision goggles by security personnel.
"Reinforcement reached the site immediately after which the attack was foiled," he added.
Criticising Islamabad protesters
Praising security agencies for foiling the two attacks, the defence minister requested the nation to stand by those who are fighting for the survival of the country.
Claiming that the protesters in Islamabad were "rented people," Asif urged the nation not to stand by those who are fighting an "egotistical war".
Further criticising the two political parties, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), who are currently staging sit-ins in the federal capital against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, the minister remarked that "they will definitely loose this war".
COMMENTS (10)
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@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi: "Is handcuff sold in market?"
Everything is possible in the Land of Pure; you can get nuclear armed F18; for right price of course! They have pimped, mortgaged and sold the whole country at a much cheaper price before!
This man needs to be fired for this statement about inside help. It should be thoroughly investigated and that is all he should have said. Navy has not as thoroughly investigated and gotten rid of fifth column as it though After Mehran attack. Negligent officer and sailors need to removed. Any chief who in public ridicules his subordinates usually has a very sad and well deserved end. It appears center of Taliban May be shifting to Karachi.
Khwaja Asif used to work for the defunct bank, BCCI, fondly known to the US regulators who closed it down for fraud and money laundering as the "Bank of Crooks and Criminals International."
Nothing more needs to be said.
Is handcuff sold in market? Defence Minsiter Asif says that 24 handcuffs are recovered from those who attacked Naval Dockyard on early hours of 6th September. How the attackers got handcuffs unless those are sold in market? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Former Diplomat / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com
extremists can be either civilian or any solider, as long as they are identified and apprehended, there is no harm of disclosing this information.
Stop maligning armed forces.... Use your brain and let the investigation be completed...
Mr. Meaningless Minister, please tell us something new. The group that attacked has already said they had inside help.
Navy seems to be infested with terrorists. Last attack on PNS Mehran was also traced back to navy personnel. Leadership of PN: clear this mess before you embarrass this country again.
How this can man remain Defence Minister who always try to damage our arm forces i do not know any example like this in civilized world.