10 killed in attack on Pakistan air base
- 12 years ago
This is one of Pakistan's largest air bases, and the scene of a militant attack on Thursday morning.
Pakistani authorities say Islamists armed with rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons were behind the assault.
Nine militants and a soldier died during the gun battle which raged for several hours.
Residents living nearby said they heard the fighting in the early hours of the morning.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) COLLEGE STUDENT MOHAMMAD KHAWAR:
"At around 2 or 2.15am we heard a lot of firing which was followed by loud explosions. This went on until around 4 in the morning."
The militants are thought to have moved through a nearby village under cover of darkness and climbed a nine foot wall strung with barbed wires to break into the base.
An air force spokesman said the attack was repelled with only one aircraft damaged.
Pakistani authorities say Islamists armed with rocket propelled grenades and automatic weapons were behind the assault.
Nine militants and a soldier died during the gun battle which raged for several hours.
Residents living nearby said they heard the fighting in the early hours of the morning.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) COLLEGE STUDENT MOHAMMAD KHAWAR:
"At around 2 or 2.15am we heard a lot of firing which was followed by loud explosions. This went on until around 4 in the morning."
The militants are thought to have moved through a nearby village under cover of darkness and climbed a nine foot wall strung with barbed wires to break into the base.
An air force spokesman said the attack was repelled with only one aircraft damaged.