Terror attack on air traffic control radar foiled in Pak

Karachi: Suspected Baloch terrorists have attacked the air traffic control radar facility of an airport in Pakistan's troubled southwestern Balochistan province, but the attempt was foiled by security forces.

The attack prompted authorities to launch an operation in which one of the insurgents was killed today while two others were arrested. A group of militants attacked the air traffic control radar at Pasni airport in Gwadar District's Pasni town yesterday and tried to destroy the system.

However, the Airport Security Forces (ASF) personnel deputed at the site immediately responded, preventing the militants from inflicting any major damage. "Late Monday night a major terrorist attack was repulsed and a major disaster averted at the Air Traffic control radar in Pasni, Khan Wasey," Frontier Corps spokesman said.

"The radar is safe," said Qazi Maqbool General Manager Civil Aviation Authority South, adding that no casualty was reported so far in the attack. The spokesman of the defunct Baloch Republican Army (BRA) Sarbaz Baloch claimed responsibility for attacking Pasni Radar Station.

During the attack militants used automatic weapons and fired rockets in an attempt to destroy the facility, said security official adding that none of rockets fired could hit the target. Deputy Commissioner Gwadar Abdul Hameed said terrorists fired at the radar 8kms far from the location and managed to flee after exchange of fire with law enforcement agencies.

Following the incident, security forces launched an operation and killed one militant involved in the attack. One miscreant involved in attacking Pasni Radar Station was killed and two were arrested by security forces during an exchange of fire, police officials said. Two security personnel were also killed during the exchange of fire.