Pakistani Taliban Attacks Karachi Airport, 26 Dead

Local Editor

Pakistani Taliban disguised as police guards attacked Karachi airport on Sunday and at least 26 people were killed in a night-long battle at one of the country's most high-profile targets.

Pakistan's Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was revenge for their late leader Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike on November.

Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid said "we carried out this attack on the Karachi airport and it is a message to the Pakistan government that we are still alive to react over the killings of innocent people in bomb attacks on their villages."

The attack against Jinnah International Airport in Karachi took place as Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government tries to engage Taliban militants in talks to end years of fighting.
The attack began before midnight when 10 gunmen wearing military uniforms shot their way into the airport's old terminal used mainly for charter and executive flights.

Pakistan's paramilitary force has said a group of foreign fighters were involved in an attack on one of the country's biggest airports overnight.
"Three militants blew themselves up and seven were killed by security forces," Rizwan Akhtar, the regional head of the paramilitary Rangers, said in televised remarks.

Officials said no aircraft had been damaged.

Furthermore, at least 23 people were killed in a gun and suicide attack on the restive Pakistan-Iran border late Sunday night, Pakistani officials said.
The attack occurred when a bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims returning from a visit to holy sites in Iran stopped at a restaurant in the Pakistani town of Taftan in the border area.
"So far we can confirm 23 people killed including several pilgrims and security personal. Seven others are injured," Akbar Durrani, home secretary of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province said.

He added: "Four militants including two gunmen and two suicide bombers attacked the restaurant in Taftan."

Until now no group has claimed the attack.

Meanwhile, peace talks between the government and the Pakistani Taliban have failed in recent months, dampening hopes of reaching a negotiated settlement with militants, which continues attacks against government and security targets.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team