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  • Emergency workers wheel an injured man to a hospital after an attack on an air force base in Peshawar, Pakistan, September 18, 2015. Gunmen attacked a Pakistani Air Force base in the northwestern city of Peshawar early on Friday, a military spokesman said, the first major attack in several weeks.Reuters
  • Soldiers arrive to repel an attack on an air force base in Peshawar, Pakistan, September 18, 2015. Taliban gunmen stormed a Pakistani Air Force base in the volatile northwestern city of Peshawar early on Friday, a military spokesman said, the first major attack on a military installation in several weeks.Reuters

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:

10:17 am:

10:20 am:

9:21 am:

9:20 am:

8:47 am: Six terrorits have been killed and two soldiers injured in the encounter.