A group of 13 militants wearing explosives-laden jackets and armed with rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and automatic rifles attacked a guard post as they tried to fight their way into the Badaber air base, six kilometres outside Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
The militants shot dead 16 air force men who were offering morning prayers at the mosque inside the compound, military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa told reporters.
Among 29 people killed by the militants, 23 were from Pakistan air force and three from army - a captain and two soldiers, Bajwa said. Three civilians were also killed during the assault that began at 5 AM and lasted for four hours.
All 13 terrorists were killed by security forces, he said, adding that they were dressed in constabulary uniforms.
At least 29 people, including eight soldiers and two senior army officers, were injured in the attack.
The injured have been shifted to a military hospital in Peshawar and two have been taken to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). An emergency has been declared in both hospitals.
The security forces had tip-off about the attacks as they had intercepted many conversations of the terrorists that led to the conclusion that the attack was planned, launched and controlled from within Afghanistan.
Bajwa said the militants entered the base at two points, splitting into sub-groups, sparking a fierce gunbattle with security forces.
They immediately fired launchers and hurled hand grenades on the entrance and succeed to penetrate in the camp, he said.
There were at least 2,000 people in the residential area when the attack was carried out, and the toll could have been much higher if the terrorists reached there.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack. "Our suicidal unit carried out the attack," TTP spokesman Muhammad Khurasani said in an email statement.
Khurasani claimed that 50 security personnel were killed by the militants but it was not confirmed.
You’ve hit your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Access to Exclusive Premium Stories Online
Over 30 behind the paywall stories daily, handpicked by our editors for subscribers


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app