Uzbek militants today claimed responsibility for the deadly assault on Karachi's international airport that killed at least 39 people, underscoring Pakistani Taliban's reach and its ability to recruit foreign fighters to carry out suicide attacks.
Ten Uzbek militants entered the Jinnah International Airport on Sunday night from different directions in two groups, resulting in a bloody standoff lasting for about 13 hours.
Taliban has claimed responsibility of the attack. Shahidullah Shahid, Taliban spokesperson, told media that it was a joint operation by the TTP and Uzbeks. He said the groups had also cooperated in the past as they are fighting for a common purpose.
Al-Qaeda linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) said in a statement today that its fighters attacked the airport.
"Ten brave martyrdom-seeking mujaahids of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan wearing their explosive-filled vests attacked a very special section of Karachi International Airport of Pakistan," the group said.
It said the attack was in revenge to the May 21 air strikes by army in North Waziristan which had targeted the Uzbek rebels' hideouts.
Earlier, Director General paramilitary Rangers had said that the attacker did not look like locals and had facial resemblance with people from Uzbekistan, Chechnya and Afghanistan.
IMU fighters, who are not more than a few hundreds, are hosted by Pakistan Taliban in the tribal region and they are known for their ruthlessness and ferocity.
With the recovery of more bodies, authorities today said the death toll has increased to 39.
