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Taliban attack on key Pak naval dockyard foiled

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Press Trust of India Karachi
A major Taliban attack on the strategic navy dockyard here has been foiled by Pakistani security forces after a fierce gun-battle that left a naval officer and two militants dead, the fourth terror strike on sensitive military facilities in the country this year.

The attack on the high security facility took place on Saturday but it was kept under wraps due to strategic reasons, a naval spokesman said.

At least six militants tried to storm the facility on Saturday but the attempt was foiled by marine and army commandos who killed two militants and captured four others, the spokesman said.
 

A naval officer was also killed while seven sailors were injured in the gun-battle with the militants.

The dockyard located in West Wharf is used for repairing the navy warships and submarines.

A security source said that the target of the attackers were Pakistan naval ships in the dockyard.

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack and said that it had the help of insiders in carrying out the terror strike.

It was the fourth major attack of the year on sensitive areas after militant's attack at airports of Karachi and Peshawar and botched storming efforts at two airbases in Quetta.

The Taliban has threatened a bloody response to a military offensive launched against insurgents in the lawless region of North Waziristan after a deadly June attack on the airport in the city of Karachi.

In the offensive launched in mid-June, Pakistan's army has killed more than 900 militants and lost 82 soldiers.

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First Published: Sep 09 2014 | 4:36 PM IST

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