2014 Jinnah International Airport attack
24°54′24″N 67°09′39″E / 24.90667°N 67.16083°E
2014 Jinnah International Airport attack | |
---|---|
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan |
On 8 June 2014, 10 militants armed with automatic weapons, a rocket launcher, suicide vests, and grenades attacked
Following the attack, the Pakistani military conducted a series of aerial strikes on militant hideouts in the tribal areas along the Afghan border. At least 25 militants were killed on 10 June, including foreign fighters.
Background
Jinnah International Airport is Pakistan's largest and busiest airport, and serves as the hub for
Attack
Boeing 737-33A[17] | |
Operator | Air Indus |
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Registration | AP-BLF |
Passengers | 0 |
Crew | 0 |
Second aircraft | |
Type | Airbus A310[16] |
Operator | Pakistan International Airlines |
Passengers | 0 |
Crew | 0 |
Third aircraft | |
Type | Boeing 747[16] |
Operator | Pakistan International Airlines |
Passengers | 0 |
Crew | 0 |
The attack began at 11:10 PM on 8 June and lasted until the morning around 4:00 AM of 9 June.[18] Ten attackers divided in 2 groups, stormed at two different checkpoint and attacked the cargo terminal of the airport with[19] automatic weapons, hand grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, and other explosives. The attackers were dressed as security guards, with some also wearing suicide vests. They were wearing uniforms of the Airports Security Force (ASF).[2] A senior Pakistani intelligence official said some of the militants tried to hijack a plane, but were unsuccessful.[20]
Airports Security Force troops fought back, limited the terrorists attack and started taking them out one by one. Within 2 hours, eight of the ten militants were shot dead by the Airports Security Force troops and the remaining two blew themselves up when they were cornered. About 90 minutes after the attack began, hundreds of Rangers, Police and Army troops arrived on the scene but the majority of terrorists had already been eliminated by Airports Security Force.[21][22] The siege officially ended after five hours; 28 people, including the ten terrorists, 12 ASF personnel, one Pakistan Rangers personnel, a Sindh Police official, and four PIA employees (including two senior aircraft engineers)[14] were killed in the incident.[13] At least 18 security personnel were also injured in the attack and admitted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.[18] Seven bodies that were burnt beyond recognition were also recovered from the airport's cold storage facility after a 28-hour rescue operation.[23]
Two aircraft of PIA (a Boeing 747 and an Airbus A310) and one
ASF academy attack
On 10 June, just two days after the airport attack, two to four unidentified militants opened fire near an Airports Security Force academy in Pehlwan Goth, Karachi, following which they retreated from Pehlwan Goth. Pehlwan Goth is a rundown area that is considered a hub of criminal elements, with police and rangers having previously conducted several raids in the area following increased incidence of targeted killings in Karachi in 2011.[26] Security forces soon launched a search operation in the area, during which two people were detained.[27] No casualties and injuries were reported in the attack, and no breach of fence occurred. Flight operations were temporarily suspended at Jinnah International Airport for an hour due to the news, with flights being diverted to other cities, before resuming again. The Director-General of Sindh Rangers described the attack as a hit-and-run incident aimed to create panic. The TTP accepted responsibility for the incident.[28][29]
Responsibility
The
Taliban commander Abdullah Bahar dismissed the Pakistani government's recent offer of peace talks as a "tool of war" and, in a reference to Pakistani air strikes against militants, claimed the Pakistani government killed "hundreds of tribal women and children". He also warned of more attacks against the state.[35][36]
TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid explained why the airport was targeted: "We chose a location where there would be less civilian and more official casualties." Shahid warned the group will engage "in a full-out war with the Pakistani state, starting on June 10." But "if even now the Pakistani government backs down," Shahid said, "we are ready to engage in meaningful dialogue."[37] Shahid added that "the main goal of this attack was to cut off the supply to NATO Troops in Afghanistan."[38]
Aftermath
This act of terror is unforgivable. The state will give a fitting response to such cowardly acts of terror. Those who plan and those who execute the terrorist attacks will be defeated.
—Defence Minister of Pakistan[15]
All operations at the airport were suspended, all flights were diverted, and the airport was evacuated following the attack. The PIA had to delay or cancel 20 flights immediately after the attack.
According to The Guardian, security measures at the airport have been criticised in the past. The road passing through the outer perimeter of the main terminal is guarded by the Airports Security Force armed with dowsing rods, similar to the ADE 651 fake bomb detectors sold around the world by British conman Jim McCormick, jailed for fraud in 2013. In an article titled "Why are countries still using the fake bomb detectors sold by a convicted British conman?", Leo Benedictus expressed surprise at the Pakistani officials who still believe the device works. He went on to say that not only Pakistan, but the security forces of Iraq, Lebanon, Kenya and Thailand still use the ADE 651 despite repeated warnings from the United States to stop using them.[39][40][41] Following news of the attack, other international airports in Pakistan were put on red alert and security was increased.[27] Airports in neighbouring India were also put on high alert.[38]
According to some Pakistani officials, among some of the long-term implications of the attack is the fact that it may make foreign airlines wary of expanding operations in Pakistan, with many international air carriers already having scaled back their activities since 2008. Currently, there are 19 international airlines serving Pakistani airports.
A post-attack
The airport and PIA are estimated to have suffered losses worth billions of rupees, with one estimate putting the accumulated loss at over Rs. 180 billion.
Military strikes and launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb
On 10 June, Pakistani security forces carried out aerial strikes in
On the early hours of Thursday 12 June, the U.S. conducted two successive
On 15 June,
On 15 June, the Pakistani military formally announced the start of
Investigations
According to initial reports provided by the Director-General of the Sindh Rangers, General
The Afghan ambassador to Pakistan was summoned following the attack, during which Pakistani officials lodged a protest over anti-Pakistani militants finding sanctuary inside Afghanistan, from where they operate.[54]
Reports citing sources in the Pakistani Rangers reported that Indian ammunition and/or Indian-made guns, were recovered from the dead militants,
The National Crisis Management Cell of the Ministry of Interior said weapons and explosives used in the attack may have been transported into the airport building before the militants stormed it, leading to questions over infiltration and flaws in security.
Reactions
Domestic
The attack sparked widespread reactions on social media in Pakistan, receiving condemnations from
Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party and a major opposition leader, denounced the attack and heavily criticised the government, calling for the resignation of top officials and noting that "It is a complete failure on the part of the government and state to protect key installations and citizens' lives and those under whose watch this happened must immediately take responsibility and resign."[76] The National Assembly of Pakistan passed a resolution condemning the attack.[77] Information Minister of Sindh Sharjeel Memon criticised the federal government, saying it had failed to react when the attack took place, and credited the army and security institutions for saving the day.[26]
International
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying stated that China "strongly condemns the attack and conveys sympathy to the victims' families as well as those injured" and expressed support for Pakistan's counter-terrorism strategy.[78]
- European Union – A spokesperson for the European Union External Action Service released a statement condemning the attack, expressing sympathy with the families of security officials and civilians killed in the attack, and supported the government of Pakistan's efforts on fighting terrorism.[79]
- India – The attack was condemned by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, while Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, TCA Raghavan, stated "we strongly condemn the recent act of terrorism in Karachi that is a major setback to regional peace and stability."[80] Raghavan denied allegations of Indian involvement in the attack.[81] On 13 June 2014 the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied to a letter sent by his Pakistan counterpart where he strongly condemned the Karachi attack.[82]
- Turkey – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif to offer his condolences the terrorist attack in Karachi. Also he stated that, "Turkey will always be with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism".[83]
- United Nations – The United Nations condemned the airport attack and another incident targeting Shia pilgrims in Taftan. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the government of Pakistan to address terrorism and bring the culprits to justice.[84]
- United States – The White House condemned the attack, with spokesman Josh Earnest stating "Americans' hearts go out to the families of the victims and those who were wounded."[52] The U.S. also offered assistance to Pakistani authorities for investigations.[85]
See also
- PNS Mehran attack – a 2011 assault on the Pakistan Navy's headquarters
- 2012 Bacha Khan International Airport attack – a similar attack at Bacha Khan International Airport
- Bandaranaike Airport attack – a 2001 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam assault on Sri Lanka's largest airport
- 2014 Quetta Airbase attack
- Pan Am Flight 73
- Uzbeks in Pakistan
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Further reading
- "Pakistan's 'fanatical' Uzbek militants". BBC News. 11 June 2014.