At least 13 militants were gunned down in an encounter with Pakistani security forces on Friday, when a group of attackers attempted to break into the Pakistani Air Force base in Badhaber area of Peshawar city.
As many as 10 soldiers, including Major Haseeb of quick reaction force (QRF), were injured in the cross firing that started early in the morning.
The armed group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is reported to have taken responsibility for the attack, according to Al Jazeera report.
The director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asim Saleem Bajwa had confirmed the report about the attack in the morning and gave details on the operation on Twitter.
The militants attacked the guardroom of the base camp in an attempt to break into the Badaber air base. Army commandos and QRF personnel were quick to surround the militants and engage them in exchange of fire, gunning down six of them.
The security forces have launched a search operation at the site as they suspect more militants are hiding inside the camp. Pakistan's security forces have cordoned off the area and helicopters are keeping vigil from the air for hiding militants.
"Badaber PAF Base: Terrorists attk guard room early morning.Quick reaction force reached, surrounded, isolated them. Fire exch continues," DG ISPR Asim Bajwa tweeted.
"5 terrorists killed so far. Clearance ops in progress.Maj Haseeb of QRF injured.Recd bullet in thigh.Evacuated 2 CMH-5," he said in another tweet.
Updates:
11:38 am:
Update:#COAS arrives Psr.13 terrorists killed so far after have been surrounded.Bodies lying in the compound. pic.twitter.com/54evPUdqyQ
— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
10:17 am:
#COAS leaves for Peshawar.Will visit Corps HQs,meet with troops participating in clearance ops.Will also see all wounded in CMH
— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
10:20 am:
Update:Clearance ops in progress.Latest figure of terrorists killed is 8.Own 10 soldiers injured including 2 offrs. Psr Corps Comd on site-7 — AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
9:21 am:
The attackers managed to reach the gate of the PAF Base Badaber in a vehicle: ARY Reporter at the scene http://t.co/oznDCaBvok
— ARY News (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) September 18, 2015
9:20 am:
PM Nawaz Sharif condemns terrorist attack in Peshawar, Spox says he is constantly being kept updated on the ongoing operation
— JAAG TV (@JaagAlerts) September 18, 2015
8:47 am: Six terrorits have been killed and two soldiers injured in the encounter.
Update:Total terrorist killed so far 6 now.Clearance ops still underway.Searching for hidden http://t.co/oz0HVDen8A more soldier injured-6.
— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
Badaber Update:5 terrorists killed so far. Clearance ops in progress.Maj Haseeb of QRF injured.Recd bullet in thigh.Evacuated 2 CMH-5
— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
Badaber Update:As per initial info,7-10 terrorists tried to break deep in the Base.Terrorists engaged,contained around guard room area-2
— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
Badaber Update:Entire response mechanism reacted quickly.Effectively surrounded,confined Ts in small area.3 Terrorists killed so far-3 — AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015
Badaber Update:Psr Brigade Comd leading ops with QRFs,Army commandos,local PAF troops.Police present outside base in outer cordon-3
— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 18, 2015