New al Qaeda South Asia arm claims Karachi Naval dockyard attack
It is the first attack claimed by the terror network's new wing
PESHAWAR:
Al Qaeda's new South Asia branch on Thursday claimed responsibility for a weekend raid on the Karachi Naval dockyard that left a sailor and three attackers dead, saying former military officers had helped in the attack.
It is the first attack claimed by the terror network's new wing, whose creation was announced by chief Ayman al Zawahiri last week.
The claims, made on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York, will likely add to concerns about extremist infiltration of the Pakistani military's ranks after the Taliban, who also claimed to be behind the attack, said they received inside help.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had voiced concerns when addressing parliament on Wednesday, saying: "We cannot rule out the inside help in this attack because without it the miscreants could not breach security."
Al Qaeda in South Asia was launched last week in what experts see as a bid to remain relevant in the face of rising competition by the Islamic State (IS).
"The operation near Karachi shore was an attack by al Qaeda in the subcontinent," a statement in Urdu from the group sent to AFP said.
It claimed that the target of the raid was a "US supply ship" and said the dead attackers included former Pakistan Navy officers.
It was not immediately possible to confirm whether a US ship was present at the port. Militant groups in the region often exaggerate claims about attacks.
Commodore Nadeem Bukhari, a spokesman for the Pakistan Navy said an investigation into the attack was under way.
"It cannot be ruled out but it is still premature to say that it was an inside work," he told AFP.
Al Qaeda said the officers quit their jobs and joined the militants after growing becoming radicalised.
Al Qaeda was previously linked to a 2011 raid on another Karachi naval base that lasted 17 hours resulting in the deaths of 10 personnel and destruction of two US-made spy planes.
The new hardline Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban sent a "greetings card" to journalists on Thursday gloating over the 9/11 attacks and hailing former al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
Al Qaeda's new South Asia branch on Thursday claimed responsibility for a weekend raid on the Karachi Naval dockyard that left a sailor and three attackers dead, saying former military officers had helped in the attack.
It is the first attack claimed by the terror network's new wing, whose creation was announced by chief Ayman al Zawahiri last week.
The claims, made on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York, will likely add to concerns about extremist infiltration of the Pakistani military's ranks after the Taliban, who also claimed to be behind the attack, said they received inside help.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had voiced concerns when addressing parliament on Wednesday, saying: "We cannot rule out the inside help in this attack because without it the miscreants could not breach security."
Al Qaeda in South Asia was launched last week in what experts see as a bid to remain relevant in the face of rising competition by the Islamic State (IS).
"The operation near Karachi shore was an attack by al Qaeda in the subcontinent," a statement in Urdu from the group sent to AFP said.
It claimed that the target of the raid was a "US supply ship" and said the dead attackers included former Pakistan Navy officers.
It was not immediately possible to confirm whether a US ship was present at the port. Militant groups in the region often exaggerate claims about attacks.
Commodore Nadeem Bukhari, a spokesman for the Pakistan Navy said an investigation into the attack was under way.
"It cannot be ruled out but it is still premature to say that it was an inside work," he told AFP.
Al Qaeda said the officers quit their jobs and joined the militants after growing becoming radicalised.
Al Qaeda was previously linked to a 2011 raid on another Karachi naval base that lasted 17 hours resulting in the deaths of 10 personnel and destruction of two US-made spy planes.
The new hardline Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban sent a "greetings card" to journalists on Thursday gloating over the 9/11 attacks and hailing former al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.