Pakistan Air Force chief lauds security personnel for thwarting attack on training airbase

In this handout photograph, taken and released by the Directorate General Public Relations Pakistan Air Force, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu interacts with base security staff during his visit to PAF Base in Mianwali on November 4, 2023, following a militant attack on the base. (Photo courtesy: PAF)

• Nine militants had stormed the PAF Training Airbase Mianwali in wee hours of Saturday 
• None of PAF operational assets were damaged in the operation that killed all attackers 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, on Saturday visited the PAF Training Airbase Mianwali, where he lauded security personnel for thwarting a militant attack that killed nine attackers, the PAF said.
The training base of the PAF came under attack in the wee hours of Saturday, according to the Pakistani military. Three of the attackers were killed while entering the base, whereas six others were eliminated in a combing and clearance operation.
The military said “no damage” had been done to any functional operational assets at the airfield.
During the visit, the air chief commended the on-duty security personnel for their unwavering professionalism and neutralizing the intruders in the minimum possible time.
“Chief of the Air Staff interacted with the base personnel, expressed his utmost appreciation for their exceptional commitment in putting service before self and reiterated the required level of readiness of each & every person in the Pakistan Air Force to counter any malicious intent of hostile elements & terrorist outfits,” the PAF said in a statement.
“He also thanked the joint operations team comprising Zarar Company of Pakistan Army and civil LEAs (law enforcement agencies) for their timely support to counter the infiltration most optimally.”
The air chief said the security scenario demanded unwavering vigilance and commitment of the Pakistani forces and they were resolute to counter any threat to the nation.
“The visit of Chief of the Air Staff serves as a strong message of solidarity and reassurance to the entire Pakistan Air Force personnel, inspiring them to remain steadfast in their duty to protect the nation,” the PAF said.
The assault came a day after three separate attacks killed 21 people, including 15 security personnel, in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces that border Afghanistan.
The South Asian country has been witnessing an uptick in militant attacks, particularly after the Pakistan Taliban called off their fragile truce with the government in November 2022, with a majority of these incidents targeting the two provinces along the Afghan border.
Pakistan last month asked all illegal immigrants, mostly Afghan nationals, to leave the country by November 1, saying they were involved in attacks, smuggling and other offenses.
The expulsion order followed suicide bombings in Pakistan this year that the government said involved Afghan nationals, though it did not provide any evidence.
The South Asian country has since set up tens of holding centers to speed up the repatriation process as authorities continue to arrest illegal immigrants in nationwide sweeps.