KARACHI: Almost a day after an armed attack on Karachi airport killed at least 29 people including militants, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday night said that foreign as well as local elements were involved in recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, DawnNews reported.
Speaking at a press conference held at the airport here, he said at least 19 security personnel including 11 Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel were killed in the brazen attack. There are reports of 29 others wounded in the attack also, he added.
Chaudhry Nisar praised security and law enforcement forces for the successful and timely completion of the operation against the assailants.
“Rangers troops reached the airport in seven and armed forces in 10 minutes time,” he said.
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According to the security officials, the operation was completed by 1:30am to 2:30am as all ten militants were killed by then, said Nisar. They, however, continued the operation for an hour or so to make sure no militants were left hiding in the airport’s premises.
The minister said that all national installations remained safe in the attack. However, he added that three aircraft were partially damaged.
“The main target of the assailants was to destroy aircraft.”
Nisar said every street and corner of the country was at terrorists’ target and urged the security personnel to remain on their toes.
Regarding weapons recovered from the attackers, he said there were clues pointing towards the involvement of a country, but this was yet to be verified. The interior minister said that people who went missing during the operation are being located by the security forces and rescuers.
Families of seven missing people protest
Meanwhile, families of seven airport workers blocked Shahrae Faisal demanding that authorities work towards freeing their relatives who were trapped in cold-storage facilities to escape the carnage, AFP reported.
“We are looking into this and according to the families some seven people were trapped inside the cold storage and were in contact with the families on cell phone,” said Abid Qaimkhani, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).