The North Waziristan blues
Pakistani Air Force Base With Nuclear Ties Is Attacked
By DECLAN WALSH, NYT
KARACHI, Pakistan — Suspected Islamist militants attacked a major Pakistani Air Force base where some of the country’s nuclear weapons are thought to be stored in the early hours of Thursday, setting off an exchange of fire that lasted several hours.
Security forces battled attackers until dawn at the Minhas air force base, west of the capital, Islamabad, according to reports on Pakistani television. At least one militant was killed and several others were wounded.
The base, in the Attock district of Punjab, is believed to be one of the locations where part of Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile, estimated to include at least 100 warheads, is stored. The assault came amid mounting speculation that Pakistan’s military was preparing to carry out an operation in the militant stronghold of North Waziristan, in the tribal belt — a longstanding demand of the United States.
Early reports suggested that the attackers, some wearing suicide jackets, were targeting JF-17 fighter jets at the base that could be used in such an operation.
(More here.)
KARACHI, Pakistan — Suspected Islamist militants attacked a major Pakistani Air Force base where some of the country’s nuclear weapons are thought to be stored in the early hours of Thursday, setting off an exchange of fire that lasted several hours.
Security forces battled attackers until dawn at the Minhas air force base, west of the capital, Islamabad, according to reports on Pakistani television. At least one militant was killed and several others were wounded.
The base, in the Attock district of Punjab, is believed to be one of the locations where part of Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile, estimated to include at least 100 warheads, is stored. The assault came amid mounting speculation that Pakistan’s military was preparing to carry out an operation in the militant stronghold of North Waziristan, in the tribal belt — a longstanding demand of the United States.
Early reports suggested that the attackers, some wearing suicide jackets, were targeting JF-17 fighter jets at the base that could be used in such an operation.
(More here.)
Powered by Blogger
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home