So as Jon Gold and Jeffrey Hill waste the truth movement's time pointing the finger at the ISI for their alleged assistance to the alleged 9/11 hijackers, Pakistan continues to heat up--but who is the real enemy? Al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban? Or is someone using them as a sockpuppet?

PNS Mehran Attack:
Ten Security Personnel Martyred; 4 Militants Killed in Operation

'Pakistan Times' Bureau Report

KARACHI: Four of the six militants who were involved in the armed raid on Pakistan’s Naval air base have been eliminated in the retaliatory operation by the security forces while two managed to escape, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said here Monday.

He put the number of martyred armed forces personnel at 10 and the injured at 15. Talking to media men here at Chief Minister House after his visit to the PNS Mehran at Sharea Faisal, the Interior Minister said the martyred troops would be awarded Sitara-e-Shujaat posthumously.

"The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have claimed responsibility for the attack," Rehman Malik said. He said two terrorists were killed by the security forces in clashes, another blew himself up in one of the buildings while body of the fourth is said to be in the debris. "They were wearing black shirts and trousers."

He said two naval surveillance planes P3C Orion were destroyed by the terrorists who were equipped with rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), LMGs and hand grenades. Malik said other planes were towed away by Navy personnel assisted by Rangers out of the terrorists' firing range.

He said 17 foreigners including 11 Chinese and 6 Americans were rescued by the Naval commandoes. The foreigners were there to give training to naval personnel about Orion planes.

Interior Minister said two other suspected terrorists were stated to be seen running away by the eye-witnesses at the base and added that the terrorists sneaked into the base from the back side by scaling the walls with the help of ladders. "Two ladders and cutters were also found from the spot," he said.

The Minister said that the terrorists were between 22 to 25 years of age with fair and sharp complexion. He said the security personnel who achieved martyrdom included one officer Lt. Yasser Abbas, 3 firemen, 3 SSG personnel, 1 sailor and 2 personnel of Pakistan Rangers.

The attack started at 10. 30 pm Sunday night and clashes continued till the operation was completed by personnel of Navy and Rangers by 3.30 pm on Monday. Rehman Malik said that President and Prime Minister were in constant touch with him during the operation and added that an investigation team led by Pakistan Navy will be established whose report will be made public.

He said all terrorist activities were being planned in Waziristan and Al-Qaeda and TTP were destroying the assets of the country at the behest of other forces that wanted to destabilise Pakistan. "I appeal to all political parties to get united against common enemy and protect the homeland," he maintained.

To a question, he said Pakistan was fighting the terrorists not only to protect itself but the whole world and this terrorism on naval base was attack on Pakistan.

On the occasion, he paid rich tribute to Navy and Rangers troops who embranced martyrdom especially Lt. Yasser Abbass who, he said, sacrificed his life and saved the assets and personnel of Navy at the base.

An earlier report said that an officer and a sailor of Pakistan Navy embraced martyrdom and two others sustained injuries when some terrorists attacked Pakistan Navy Base Mehran here on Sunday night.

This was stated by an official of the ISPR (Navy) here late on Sunday night. He said that more than a dozen terrorists sneaked into Pakistan Navy Base Mehran, hurled hand grenades and resorted to firing with rocket launchers.

A P3C Orion aircraft of Pakistan Navy was also damaged in the attack. The Commandos and Marines of Pakistan Navy as well as the Rangers are carrying out operation against the terrorists. The area had been cordoned off. The casualties of the terrorists were not immediately known, it was further stated.

Details

As per details, four terrorists were killed and 10 security personnel embraced martyrdom in an attack by the former on Pakistan’s Navy’s air base on Shahra-e-Faisal. The terrorists, however, managed to destroy two surveillance aircrafts P3C Orions. “The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have claimed responsibility for the attack,” said Interior Minister Rehman Malik at a press briefing at Chief Minister’s House on Monday after completion of the operation at PNS Mehran.

He said two terrorists were killed by the security forces in clashes, another blew himself up in one of the buildings while body of the fourth is said to be in the debris. “They were wearing black shirts and trousers.” During the clashes, 15 security personnel also sustained injuries. He said two naval surveillance planes P3C Orion were destroyed by the terrorists who were equipped with rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), LMGs and hand grenades.

Malik said other planes were towed away by Navy personnel assisted by Rangers out of the terrorists’ firing range. He said 17 foreigners including 11 Chinese and 6 Americans were rescued by the Naval commandoes. The foreigners were there to give training to naval personnel about Orion planes.

Interior Minister said two other suspected terrorists were stated to be seen running away by the eye-witnesses at the base and added that the terrorists sneaked into the base from the back side by scaling the walls with the help of ladders. “Two ladders and cutters were also found from the spot,” he said.The inister said that the terrorists were between 22 to 25 years of age with fair and sharp complexion.

He said the security personnel who achieved martyrdom included one officer Lt. Yasser Abbas, 3 firemen, 3 SSG personnel, 1 sailor and 2 personnel of Pakistan Rangers. The attack started at 10. 30 pm Sunday night and clashes continued till the operation was completed by personnel of Navy and Rangers by 3.30 pm on Monday.

Rehman Malik said that President and Prime Minister were in constant touch with him during the operation and added that an investigation team led by Pakistan Navy will be established whose report will be made public. He said all terrorist activities were being planned in Waziristan and Al-Qaeda and TTP were destroying the assets of the country at the behest of other forces that wanted to destabilise Pakistan.

“I appeal to all political parties to get united against common enemy and protect the homeland,” he maintained. To a question, he said Pakistan was fighting the terrorists not only to protect itself but the whole world and this terrorism on naval base was attack on Pakistan.

On the occasion, he paid rich tribute to Navy and Rangers troops who embranced martyrdom especially Lt. Yasser Abbass who, he said, sacrificed his life and saved the assets and personnel of Navy at the base.

http://pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=21846

Pakistan government suspects state-backed players behind PNS Mehran attack

Submitted by Vijay Sharma on Mon, 05/23/2011 - 16:53
Rehman Malik, Pakistan's Interior Minister has urged people to not jump to conclusions about who was behind the attack on PNS Mehran , but described them as 'fair and sharp-featured.' He also seemed to hint at state-supported groups.

Malik said none of the attackers were arrested alive, but the forces found three bodies.

He also clarified that there were only 4-6 attackers, not 10 or 12.

Two seemed to have escaped, he added.

"They were very fair. They had very sharp features, 20-30 or 35.. They were not wearing Salwar Kameez (Pakistan dress.) They had western clothes. They had one-inch beards," Malik said.

"We will soon be establishing their origins and ethnicity," he said. He said no one has been arrested and dismissed rumors that the attackers were from Punjab [in Pakistan.] "Please don't spread any rumor.. The Taliban have claimed responsibility.. But we will investigate and find out where they are from," he said.

He pointed out that the terrorists had rocket launchers. "Rocket launchers are not there with ordinary terrorists.. They are supplied only to states. That is why I ask you to be patient before jumping to conclusions about who is behind this. This episode shows to what extent Pakistan's enemies will fall to make us weaker," he pointed out.

"We are the victim of war, please listen to us with sympathy. We have 9/11 every day. Trust us, we need your support," he asked the international community.

Pakistani security forces have managed to neutralize a group of suspected Taliban fighters who attacked the Naval base near Karachi.

http://rtn.asia/446_pakistan-government-suspects-state-backed-players-be...

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