Pakistan Air Force Attack
Nine heavily armed terrorists attacked the Pakistan Air Force’s Mianwali Training Air Base in Punjab province. Fortunately, the military confirmed that all nine terrorists have been eliminated in a “combing and clearance operation.” While no damage occurred to the functional operational assets, some damage was done to three non-operational aircraft.
This attack was claimed by the Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a newly emerged terror group affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In response, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar vowed unwavering resistance against any attempts to undermine Pakistan’s security.
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The attack came shortly after a series of terror strikes in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 soldiers. These incidents marked a significant escalation in violence, particularly in Balochistan, where separatist groups have intensified attacks since the termination of a ceasefire deal between the TTP and the Pakistani government in November 2022.
Interim interior minister Sarfraz Bugti suggested that while the names of the terrorists involved in these attacks may differ, the underlying enemy remains the same, and this wave of terror is viewed as a conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan.
Throughout the year, security forces and separatist groups have been engaged in conflicts, primarily in Balochistan. A rise in violence has been observed following the Taliban’s ascent to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
Reports from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) and the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) highlight the increased security challenges faced by Pakistan, with rising terrorist attacks and casualties among security forces, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
