Pakistan

At least 29, including army captain killed in Badhaber PAF base attack

TTP claims responsibility for attack

Agencies/our Correspondents September 18, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD: At least 29 people, including an army captain, were killed as militants attacked a heavily-guarded Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base in Badhaber area on the outskirts of Peshawar early Friday morning.

Security officials said the attackers split into three groups after entering the camp, with two moving to a residential area.

The third group approached the mosque and sprayed worshippers with bullets as they prayed, killing at least 16 of them.

"Terrorists entered camp at two points. Encounter began immediately," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. "The attackers "were contained within a close area. Captain Asfandyar embraced shahadat while fighting valiantly and leading his troops from the front."

Update:Capt Asfandyar embraced shahadat while fighting valiantly and leading his troops from the front-10 pic.twitter.com/8QABikzDOZ
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015

Update from On Site:Terrorists entered camp at 2 points.further split in sub gps.Encounter began immediately due to quick response.-8
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015

Following the attack, army chief General Raheel Sharif, and air chief Sohail Aman reached Peshawar.

Update:#COAS visited CMH Psr,met all injured from Army/PAF.CAS accompanied.Injured in high morale&spirits-11 pic.twitter.com/fRQOosyt6K
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015

Update:Army Chief &Air Chief together visit Badaber http://t.co/Q6RNEVFHT6 PAF,Army,police troops who,defeated attk&killed all terrorists-12
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also visited Peshawar and attended funeral prayers of the deceased.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (C) and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif inquiring about the health if an injured personnel.

The premier also met the father of Captain Asfandyar at Headquarters 11 Corps, condoled and paid tributes to the captain for showing courage and bravery in fight against terrorists.

Update:Clearance ops in progress.Latest figure of terrorists killed is 8.Own 10 soldiers injured including 2 offrs. Psr Corps Comd on site-7
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015

FATA terror purge: Army won’t go back until job is done, says Gen Raheel

Rescue 1122 officials said at least 22 people, including 10 soldiers, were also injured during the attack.

"Clearance operation is in progress. Major Haseeb of QRF injured, received a bullet in his thigh and has been taken to CMH," Bajwa added.

PHOTO: AFP

Operation Zarb-e-Azb: Army gearing up for final push in Shawal Valley

PHOTO: AFP

TTP claims responsibility

In an email to the media, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Khorasani group claimed responsibility for the attack.

“We sent 14 men to attack the base and eight of them entered the base from one side and six from the other side,” the spokesperson said.

15 killed as Pakistan Army jets pound terrorist hideouts in Shawl

“The attack was planned by Qari Saifullah group and a threat alert had been issued a week ago,” a senior security official told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity.

“It was a result of security measures that a major catastrophe was restricted to minimum,” he added.

The security official said initial investigations showed the attackers had travelled in a vehicle from Bara Tehsil, Khyber Agency to Ghundi area of Jamrud Tehsil. “A search operation had been launched in Jamrud since last night.”

“All terrorists killed inside the base were suicide bombers,” he added.

PHOTO: AFP

Will eliminate terrorists from remotest places at all costs: Army chief

The area of Badhaber is located close to the the semi autonomous Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar and Kohat. Both FRs have been a point of contention as they are buffer zones between the tribal and settled area.

Condemnations

Condemning the attack, President Mamnoon Hussain said the nation is committed to eliminating terrorism from the country.

“Terrorists cannot undermine our resolve by carrying out coward acts of terrorism,” the president said.

PM Nawaz also reiterated the resolve to continue with full zeal the mission of eliminating terrorism for which the nation has rendered so many sacrifices. "Terrorists will be rooted out from the country," he said.

K-P Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser also condemned the attack. “We will continue to fight against militants until peace is restored,” the provincial assembly speaker said, while visiting the injured at Lady Reading Hospital.

Eyewitness account

“We were offering prayers at a mosque when we heard firing in the distance,” Muhammad Rizwan and Ikram Rizwan both employees at the airbase in Badhaber told The Express Tribune.

“We were waiting for the imam to begin prayers one of the attackers barged into the mosque and started firing indiscriminately,” Muhammad Rizwan added.

Ikram recalled there was a lull in firing and the attacker then lobbed a hand grenade. “When one of the attackers left, people rushed towards the injured but then another attacker entered the mosque and repeated the same.”

“We are very lucky we survived,” they added.

PHOTO: AFP

Sabitullah Khan, a labourer who lives nearby, said a wall of his house collapsed under the force of grenade blasts during the attack.

"It was horrifying to hear the blasts and intense firing," he said.

Kifayatullah, who runs a grocery store near the camp, told AFP he was praying at a mosque outside the compound when the attack began with "a grenade explosion and intense gunfire".

"It was next to impossible to come out of the mosque. We jumped from the window of the mosque and escaped," he said.

COMMENTS (74)

Pukudengutha | 8 years ago | Reply Asfandyar; braveheart, I am an Indian ex-Army officer.I salute you. You are my grand son's age, I fought your Army in 1971, but, if I were to face you on Indo Pak border today, I would still salute your bravery. May your soul rest in peace. Your parents are honoured because of you.

Dallas Ali | 8 years ago | Reply As a ethnic Pakistani it is a shame to see time and time again that these terrorist are attacking the very foundation of Pakistani institutions with impunity. It is high time that they take security seriously. I am retired from a US defense contractor and have seen how security is enforced be it an ordinary worker to an executive if they are not cleared for access they just can't enter. Maybe Pakistan needs to hire a US private contractor for help them with basics of security. I am saying this after my own first hand expedience of lax security that I encountered during my many visits to Pakistan for FMS (foreign military sales).

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Javed | 8 years ago | Reply Afghanistan border is as danger as Indian border, we are facing Indian and also afghanis, there must have operation against afghanistan and Indian through clear statement. Why our politicians fear because they need only chair and there is no killed from their own family members. That's why may be they are silent.

Ravian | 8 years ago | Reply This attack should cause a lot of soul searching. Population at large , significant minority provides financial and physical support ,otherwise they could not travel with arms and ammunition . Who are those elements ? Is it Madrassas mosques or average person on the street? Local government including provincial government is obviously not doing its job. Giving statement of denunciation will not cure it. Ik still wants to negotiate , no responsible statesman will think of doing it. federal government has been most incompetent in fighting these criminal with war going on more overpasses and computer distribution will not cure it. Are the security agencies and armed forces taking adequate precautions for protection of vital installations ? Do they need need a large buffer zone around the bases clear the unfriendly population. What about Afghans ? Are they the fifth element? Leadership needs to ponder over it. Slogans of democracy will not solve it. Need an all out effort from everybody to solve it. Country must be placed first. Remember this is your identity and the only country you have.

Blogging ceo | 8 years ago | Reply Salute for Pakistan army always. They have been fighting and they will fight against terrorism. May Allah bless you and love you pak army

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply @Saif US asked for the snakes and left them to bite Pakistanis. What US is doing in Afghanistan. Why can they not arrest Fazullah and Khorasani and all other Pakistani terrorists living safe in Afghanistan. Afghan refugees must go back to their country and eradicate terrorism and do not allow terrorism to grow. :

Afshan | 8 years ago | Reply It is unbelievable that at this moment of our national tragedy, our Indian neighbours just cannot resist from making their usual "holier than thou" comments! Please grow up, show some respect and let Pakistanis vent in peace. Your inane comments are not helpful and are totally unnecessary. Thanks :)

Adnan Shaheen | 8 years ago | Reply @Ashraf: If so, some day you will say security of Pakistan too should be outsourced! That's not a solution dear. We have to fight ourselves.

BCCI | 8 years ago | Reply The photo of Capt. Captain Asfandyar broke my heart...Martyred at such a young age..RIP brave soldier. What is the use of Aetmi Bum and Chinese drones? They can't stop the Bad Taliban. The day Pakistan declares all Taliban as BAD Taliban and declares peace with India, everything will change..Inshallah Peace!!

someone | 8 years ago | Reply So terrorists can still hit pretty much everywhere they wish despite tall claims by Pakistani army of the clean up.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply The failure of zarb e zarb? Pakistan appears to be now fully engaged in a civil war, the kind which is forcing civilians syrians and Iraqis heading for Europe to seek refuge. The European Union have reportedly classified Pakistan, a war zone area as well entitling its citizens for asylum... Rex Minor

gothmog | 8 years ago | Reply Hit back, hit hard. Let those sheltering the perpetrators suffer quick and unyielding retribution. The time for weakness is past. The enemy will face a resurgent Pakistan.

Abdul Majeed | 8 years ago | Reply Why is Express Tribune publishing images of dead bodies? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.

US CENTCOM | 8 years ago | Reply Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of the brave military personnel who lost their lives in this act of terror. Once again the terrorists have shown that they will stop at nothing to push their terrorist agenda forward. We take our hat off to the brave Pakistani security forces that refuse to let these terrorists succeed and continue to lay their lives down for the country. We stand with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. We are hopeful that day is not far when peace will prevail throughout the country. Ali Khan Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM

Rizvi | 8 years ago | Reply SALAAM to brave soldiers ! May Allsh protect chief and give him taufeeqat to safe the country, still root cause should remove and bad Madarsa should closed who are preparing such type of animals with the name of Jehad.. All institutions must be under strict observation and the main Molvies (every body know them) should hanged without considering any sect or school of thought. Pakistan Zindabad

ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply @Jamal: No chance of peace in Pakistan until India , Pakistan and Afghanistan have will to create the right environment in the region. India and Pakistan with 60% poverty are always war mongering and showing off their new weapons, firing on LOC and talking up the war. Europe learned after the Second World War to live peacefully together but our nations have not. There are vested interests by many players internal and external but we do not want to face these and want to live in self denial.

UAShahzad | 8 years ago | Reply It is a very sad event. We are all with the affected families. Point to ponder is that, it is a security failure. LEAs have to take stock of their own men, as soft entry points remained unguarded or not properly fortified. This is a base developed by Americans and sure they had made fool proof architecture and security outlays of this base. A huge public exchequer is spent on the LEA fiscal needs but the nation expects reciprocation. One cannot offload his responsibility by blaming neighboring agencies.If they are so organized and putting such damage to us then what our LEAs are doing. We have never heard such organized events that our enemy has tagged to our LEAs. Media should highlight the name of those PAF personnel who are martyred in this brutal act. Lastly i must say that the army captain who laid his life and his accompanying technicians should be decorated with the highest military award. Our young soldiers and officers have always proved their mettle be it 1965 or 1971, whereas the effectiveness of upper strata is always a question mark.

Ali Turab | 8 years ago | Reply LOVE U PAK ARMY :')

Rana | 8 years ago | Reply Again a full fledged successful attack killing dozens of soldiers, huge security & intelligence lapse!! Enemies are successfully executing their plans and we are tweeting stupid justifications.

Ishrat salim | 8 years ago | Reply Praising the bravery of our LEAs is good in this case, but again there was Intel failure when warning was issued last week, so how come the terrorists could enter the base camp ? because there were only 2 way to enter, 1 from front gate and another 1 from back gate. 2) why guard room was being manned by junior technicians ? It is not their responsibility. They are technical assets and are important people who take care of our aircraft. 3) this base is surrounded from 4 sides by villages, which need to be cleared, why was it not cleared, these are dens for such criminals.

Lakhkar Khan | 8 years ago | Reply "Imran also paid rich tribute to the martyred Captain Asfandyar who led the troops to defeat terrorists' plan." Issuing a generic tribute is NOT enough, Taliban Khan. This is exactly what you did when 150 APS children and staff was brutally murdered by your Taliban supporters. You must name Taliban terrorists by name if you have the guts which I don't think you do.

muhammad akram | 8 years ago | Reply Insha Allah terrorists will meet their jahanjum soon.well done pak army .I selute pak army

Last Word | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan has long way to go to contain terrorism as it has to fight both Islamists and sectarians who have deep roots and sleeper cells all over the country. This Franks tine created against India and Afghanistan has spilled over to Pakistan. However, the state agencies unable to control this menace started blaming neighbours which appears to be a face saving exercise. TTP who have been carrying out several attacks continuously for the past five years killing thousands of innocent civilians were declared as Indian agents this year. If Pakistan seriously wants to win war against terrorism, it must stop blaming others and commence winding up its entire terror machinery including the ones considered as assets against India and Afghanistan.

Hamid boom | 8 years ago | Reply We fully condemn about peshawar attacked . We tribute to Pak army .I think the political parties should participate .

Saeed | 8 years ago | Reply While our children are laying their lives for the country. Where are nawaz sharifs, zardaris, Imran khans and other politicians children. May god almighty give our brave shaheed a special place in jannah Ameen.

Muhammad Saleem Munshi | 8 years ago | Reply A tragic incident indeed but someone ever wondered what made the terrorists so desperate knowing from the start that death awaits them when they do their cowardly act. I do not accept the brainwash theory there is more to it. The only reason that comes to mind is the complete demolition of social justice starting from the Ayub era horrendeously continuing in the Zia era, subjugation of foreign policy entirely to US whims and total dependency on foreign aid handouts.Mysterious killing of any politician able to be challange the status quo. Verily if you sow the wind you would reap the whirlwind thats whats happening to this poor blighted nation. Salute to the Shaheeds but why they have to get martyered in their own country and on their own soil.

A soldier | 8 years ago | Reply Firstly I feel sad about the death of serving soldiers, who gave away thr lives fighting for thr country. Shaeed , Martyrs are just words...the fact is, some of the families have lost thr loved ones today. RAW/ Black water..TTP..what ever...the soldiers and terrorist are like leaves they keep falling..because they have no other option ..every one doing his duty....we humans need to address the root of this tree, the vested interest of some politicians and countries..eliminate them..so that ..south east asia lives like they had lived for centuries before...work for humanity...so that lives are not lost.

Curious | 8 years ago | Reply Things are becoming clearer as time passes. Whatever resistance came it was from The Rapid Response Force led by Capt Asfandyar.The entire or most of the resident Staff were in the Mosque offering prayers and obviously enemy timed it that way. For a terrorist body to approach undetected at the most vulnerable time of dawn is unforgivable. Possibility of a fifth columnist is also there. I find this incident an example of the casual attitude of PAF security staff.

Jamal | 8 years ago | Reply @shafi: Absolutely right! But we would love to start our blame game immediately after something similar happens rather than investigating anything seriously. What is the point of a single retaliation? Retaliate till we have a complete solution. What are we scared of, we have the military might, support from the US and China, and why don't we use it to create peace in our country? I don't think anyone will say NO to us if we ask for help to create peace in our country. It is an open fact that the terrorism is originating from our country so why can't we act and finish this? We need only WILL. Hope someone who has spine will come one day to do this for the generations to come.

Junzz | 8 years ago | Reply what ever Hillary says is true,then she said this too, US created Mujahideens ,funded and equipped them in Afghanistan to defeat Soviets,and then when the work was done, we cleaned our hands and told Pakistanis that this is your mess now deal with it. if you dont agree you can find the clipping of Hillary`s speech on youtube or dailymotion.

Proud Pakistani! | 8 years ago | Reply May Allah's wrath be on these terrorists, Ameen

Proud Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply When guys his age are watching movies in cinemas, or making movies, or dancing in weddings etc, Captain Asfanyar Shaheed fought for his country, he very bravely led his team in the operation in the airforce base, and embraced Shahadat. We need men like him.

Muhammad Kashif | 8 years ago | Reply @ Ammar, @ Kolsat, We will keep killing indian financed ttp terrorists. As far as hillary is concerned, she is fighting own war of patriotism in USA. All TTP was initially trained by Black Water and now by RAW. It's clear with facts. Thanks we rooted many segments of Black Water.

Ammar | 8 years ago | Reply @Kolsat: Snakes are snakes they will work the whom will feed them. When Pakistan was feeding them they were fighting for Kashmeer cause, Afghanistan cause against russia and even we can say against NATO as well. Pakistan always kept balance of itself in order to keep poors safe. They are being financed by India now so thats why they are being defeated now.

shafi | 8 years ago | Reply how they entered, questionable? common citizen cannot cross any of check post

Agha Syed | 8 years ago | Reply Express Tribune... It wasn't PAF Base Peshawar... It was Badaber PAF Base Camp Peshawar. Stop Misguiding the readers through irresponsible reporting.

Al fidayi | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan the deviant boy has become the whipping boy, the erstwhile strategic assets hitting from inside and the superpower who funds free lunch hitting with drones.

baloch | 8 years ago | Reply @Pakistani Dude: here also RAW is involve then Raw is leading ur control what are doing then.

Point | 8 years ago | Reply @Brutus..: Why you guys are still obsessed with our drone. Get a life!!!

samir ranjan | 8 years ago | Reply pakistan should check whether any of their loose nukes have been carried away by the militants

Arif Mohammed | 8 years ago | Reply But Pakistan has done a atomic dhamaka.

Point | 8 years ago | Reply @Brutus..: Why you goes are still obsessed with our drone. Get a life!!!

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply National Action Plan.......this incident is PROOF that half measures are good enough.

Bless you Asfandyar. | 8 years ago | Reply Young Captain Asfandyar is a Sword of Honour winner from Pakistan Military Academy. May Allah SWT grant him the promised Jannah. Ameen.

Disgusting | 8 years ago | Reply If you are defending from well protected and prepared positions meant for such attacks, you dont suffer this number of casualties. There is a weakness somewhere. The trail if this attacking party must be followed and all those even remotely connected must not be spared. If you don't then be prepared for another APS.

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply It is a travesty that we cannot openly blame India for such incidents when its clear where they got their pathetic training from. The next UN assembly session should be interesting.

P C Dash | 8 years ago | Reply The terrorists engage security personals separately on both sides of boarder. they also manage to bring the security forces face to face on boarder. It is high time for leaders of both India and Pakistan to recognize the common enemy i.e. terrorism and mobilize joint force to weed out the root of terrorism from this region.

SB | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan making the same mistake as the US. You can't win this civil war war until you start a parallel political process to integrate them into the mainstream. You are fighting with your own people and not with a foreign country. They are part of your own country. Using only military force will aggravate the situation. Ask your leaders (both civil and military) to learn from the experiences of past civil wars and conflicts.

Saif | 8 years ago | Reply Hillary clinton famously said Pakistan raised snakes thinking it will only bite its neighbours but not now getting stung by them..

Shahid Pirzada | 8 years ago | Reply Each and every damn terrorist must be eliminated from Pakistan. Keep up the good work Pak Army.

Brutus.. | 8 years ago | Reply But Pakistan has nukes and drones???

Tyggar | 8 years ago | Reply @Pakistani How can TTP when their leader Hakimullah Mehsud was declared a Martyr by Pakistani leaders and Imran khan blocked the NATO route for droning him

illpopo | 8 years ago | Reply Quote: “We sent 14 men to attack the base and eight of them entered the base from one side and six from the other side,” Unquote: The security arrangements defiantly are not up to the mark, all the terrorists managed to enter the base! There should be several security layers place at strategic installations.

Brig R Waheed Uz Zaman Tariq | 8 years ago | Reply Still they retain a base, setup, logistics and a number of suicidal youth. Still it needs to be done more in terms of intelligence, vigilance and quick action. Badabher has been repeated attacked, from Darra Adamkhel side. Kohat tunnel was on e taken by the terrorists. This area needs a majore intelligence gathering and targetted operation. A situation may be created when timely information is confidentially provided by the residents of the troubled zones. There are pto government tribal elders, who are wiped out one by one. They have to be supported so that thry may defend themselves. This attack comes, immediately after a rody pucture being painted by the Police IG of the KPK. There is no need to reveal tge details of actions, which should speak of themselves. One good thing observed lately, was the quick resoonse by the security forces, which was not there when the GHQ was attacked, few years ago. It must ben prepared to react quickly anf effectively, without any loss of life of the security personnel. When such an operation is being carties out, the people should leave the places of congregation and lock their places; offices and residences. They should fortify themsleves. The massacre of the poeple praying in the miosque could have been avoided, if the gates of the mosque might have been closed from inside. The nation must remain comitted and the the operation should continue, till the end of the menace of terrorism. They must not be allowed to regroup themselves.

Lt Col Imtiaz Alam (retd) | 8 years ago | Reply Once again they have gone through our Security net. Must find out the lapse.

pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply @Kolsat: These are Indian backed terror groups operating out of Afghanistan. They will be neutralised. They do not have local support.

pk | 8 years ago | Reply We all know that what will be the next news, that Pakistan Airforce bombarded terrorist hideout in Waziristan killing 50 people. And mind you, they all will be terrorists without any doubt.

Travis | 8 years ago | Reply That's why nukes are not safe in Pakistan.

Pakistani Dude | 8 years ago | Reply @Wow: RAW is now resorting to cheap tactics. Good that our security forces successfully foiled the attack and major casualties have been avoided.

Brar | 8 years ago | Reply Those Pakistani brothers who are saying RAW is doing all this I will ask them if RAW is doing every thing bad in Pakistan where is ISI and other law enforcing agencies of Pakistan are all of them sleeping. And I will request LEAs of Pakistan to kill all maroons at the earliest in stead of blaming RAW.

Mir Muhammad Nawaz | 8 years ago | Reply Don't ever dare to mess with our Military forces, they will crush you MORONS till the last ! Raheel Sharif Zindabad ! Pakistan Army paindaabaad!

Kickass | 8 years ago | Reply Whenever such incidents happen there is a race between PM and his ministers that includes his younger brother to issue a condemnation statement and Perv Rashid too joins the race. That's all they do.

Kickass | 8 years ago | Reply Kolsat unfortunately the snakes crawl into Pakistan from neighboring countries that includes your country too.

Imran Kand | 8 years ago | Reply Our airforce planes are very expensive and should somehow be protected as we do not have money to replenish them.

Haider | 8 years ago | Reply @Ashraf R u crazy this attack was failed attempt while all militants being killed and no casuality from air force side....

Wow | 8 years ago | Reply I hope Sirtaj Mian is including this story in his dossier that he will some day share with UN. We know that there is no terrorism in the peaceful nation of Pakistan. This must be the work of India.

Umar Farooq | 8 years ago | Reply All strategic assets safe in Peshawar. Terrorists came with a big plan but failed once again. Well done Pakistan Armed forces for an effective response. Nation is Proud of our soldiers standing firm against the terrorists at the Badaber Base,Peshawar.Dua for the injured Major Haseeb,& all others fighting. ‪#‎Peshawar‬ ‪#‎HCP‬#

Ashraf | 8 years ago | Reply Security of military bases has to be outsourced to China.

SEAsian | 8 years ago | Reply RAW? Has to be since terrorism has been rooted out of Pakistan.

Hasan | 8 years ago | Reply Were they good Taliban or bad Taliban?

Jahan | 8 years ago | Reply Keep cleaning Pakistan from these terrorists my beloved Army. We're with you. The more they do this the more green light you get from civilians who lose their life from these attacks. Death penalty must not stop at any cost. Zarb e azb if required should extend to all provinces. Nadra officials are the reason why they made it through. Peshawar is filled with so many refugees so it's time to speed up the process of the afghans.

mansoon | 8 years ago | Reply india at work.

Kolsat | 8 years ago | Reply So Pakistan has not really defeated the terrorists. What Hillary Clinton said years ago in Pakistan has come true. The snakes raised in Pakistan to bite neighbours are biting the owners. Confront these terrorists seriously and eliminate them asap.

Humza | 8 years ago | Reply It appears that the terrorist cowards are fighting a losing battle. They have been surrounded and contained quickly now that the quick reaction force is able to engage them so quickly. Good work and keep restoring order!

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