Pakistani naval base under attack

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

At least seven officials are reported to have been killed and 14 others injured in an ongoing attack by armed men on a military base in the Pakistani city of Karachi, according to Al Jazeera's sources.

Some of the attackers are still inside the base and commandos and marines are continuing to battle them several hours after the assault began, Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder said on Monday.

At least a dozen men attacked the Mehran base, a key naval aviation facility, late on Sunday. Two maritime patrol aircraft were destroyed and at least nine people were also wounded in the assault.

"The navy was in a high state of alert," our correspondent said, adding that "the attack raises a lot of questions as to how such a large number of people, so well armed, could have actually gotten into the base".

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/05/201152218582675282.html

---

Video report at the link.

[jakeXT]

1. Sounds all really bad WWIII style

CIA has created own Taliban to wreak terror havoc on Pakistan, claims Pak paper
...
Responding to a query, the sources said that the CIA operatives have infiltrated the Taliban and Al-Qaeda networks, and have created their own TTP force, the paper said.

This force has been recruited, trained and equipped by these CIA operatives to target the Pakistan Army personnel, armed forces' installations, markets, hospitals, schools and public places to destabilise Pakistan, the paper added.

The paper quoted the sources, as claiming that the Soviet Intelligence Agency had already disclosed that CIA contractor Raymond Davis and his network had provided Al-Qaeda operatives with chemical, nuclear and biological weapons, so that US installations may be targeted and Pakistan be blamed, and pressed to do more in areas such as conducting operations in North Waziristan.

http://my.news.yahoo.com/cia-created-own-taliban-wreak-terror-havoc-pakistan-091621821.html

China asks US to respect Pak's sovereignty, independence

China has "warned in unequivocal terms that any attack on Pakistan would be construed as an attack on China", The News daily quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-20/news/29565072_1_pakistan-s-ambassador-pakistan-china-pakistan-media

EDITORIAL: Of incursions and contradictions

Two NATO helicopters violated Pakistani air space on Tuesday in North Waziristan Agency according to a statement by the Pakistan Army, which went on to add: “The troops at the post fired upon the helicopters and, as a result of exchange of fire, two of our soldiers received injuries. Pakistan Army has lodged strong protest and demanded a flag meeting.” The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says it will look into the matter and decide accordingly. NATO forces claim that their helicopters came under fire from across the border and thus had to resort to retaliatory fire.

..
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\05\19\story_19-5-2011_pg3_1

Pakistan to get 50 fighter jets from China

He said the aircraft would be fully funded by China and it would help bolster Pakistan's defence and add to the tactical capability of the Pakistan Air Force.
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-19/news/29560248_1_pakistan-air-force-fighter-jets-jf-17

[CJvR]

14. LOL!

Oh no Pakistani! The Talibans are all your own creation, give credit where it is due. You wanted islamic fundies, congratulations you got them.

[Bosonic]

2. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4859451

[Citizen Worker]

3. One helluva shit storm is forming on the horizon.

[Javaman]

18. We are going to occupy pakistan.

that is my prediction.

I've been saying this for the last 2 years.

[lib2DaBone]

4. China has warned the USA to back off......

China is supplying fighter jets and more to PAK.

The CIA has formed "Task Force Orange".. which is a plan to try and seize Paks Nukes. The Repukes are determined to start a new war in Pak.. but they don't realize what is lurking.

Obama won't listen.. he is just a puppet.

[cosmicone]

15. Seizing Pakistani nukes is a great idea.

It stops the nuclear blackmail.

China will not take on the USA and shoot itself in the foot. Without Americans buying Chinese goods, China has no strength whatsoever. The current foreign exchange reserves will last at the most one year and only 4 months if China has to fight a war.

Chinese are just posturing and Obama knows it.

[Fumesucker]

19. A damn big chunk of *our* economy revolves around Chinese goods..

Walmart for instance would go out of business in a week without a constant flow Chinese crap..

[closeupready]

26. LOL

nt

[Hugabear]

30. Oh really? Just that easy, eh?

I guess because we waltzed in and took out Bin Laden without any problems, it would be just as easy to swoop in and seize their nukes, eh? A few minor problems. For one, Pakistan's nukes are under heavy guard. Secondly, their nukes aren't all in one place, but spread out in several locations. Finally, doing so would be considered an act of war; any pretense of cooperation between Pakistan and the US would be replaced by an all-out shooting war. If we were to go in and try to seize their nukes, we'd probably wind up with an even better chance of one of them - or at least parts of one - falling into the hands of the very people we'd be trying to prevent.

[christx30]

32. I just finished a book

called Able-One in which rebels in North Korea launches a nuke into orbit and takes out a bunch of the US's satellites, killing GPS, ATM's, television, ect. There are two more on the launch pad ready to go, and some of the NIC analysts think it could be aimed at San Fransisco (the President is there giving a speech). China spends the book warning the US not to launch a preemptive strike on North Korea to stop the missiles, saying that they will be forced to retaliate against the US.
The idea is that China supplied the North Koreans with hardened satellites that could survive the blast, and the missile and warhead technology that could get the nuke into orbit, and get a warhead all the way to the continental US. Long story short, China wants to diminish the US's influence in Asia, allowing for them to reconquer Taiwan, and allowing North Korea to reunify with South Korea with the North in charge. San Fran gets nuked, US wants to go to war, China is hoping to survive with some kind of economy in tact. San Fran gets nuked, and the US doesn't want to go to war over it, the US will be humiliated into staying out of affairs in Asia.

[Vidar]

33. You summed up the situation quite well.

[Bosonic]

5. Police: 3 explosions rock Pakistani air base

Source: AP

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Police say three explosions have rocked an air force base in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi.

Rajah Omar Khitab, a senior police official in Karachi, says it is still unclear what caused the explosions late Sunday night and whether there are any casualties.

Hasan Ashmi, who lives close to the air force base, said he could see thick black smoke billowing from several places and also heard gunfire.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Police-3-explosions-rock-Pakistani-air-base-1390475.php

[Corruption Winz]

6. Awful.. Hopefully, no one was hurt. n/t

[Bosonic]

7. There *may* be US casualties

According to http://tribune.com.pk/story/173888/blast-on-dalmia-road/ a US team was working on a P3C Orion, and this was one of the planes specifically targeted. Regardless it does sound like a serious, ongoing terror/militant attack.

[Corruption Winz]

8. That's horrible. I hope this affected as few lives as possible...

Scum of the Earth. Complete scum.

[bluebuzzard]

9. Pakistan/China

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3914bd36-8467-11e0-afcb-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1N7hJWcqa
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/20/pakistan-china-fighter-jets_n_864648.html
There goes the neighborhood.

[Eugene]

10. New headline at link: Militants storm Pakistani navy base

Militants storm Pakistani navy base

ADIL JAWAD, Associated Press
Updated 03:48 p.m., Sunday, May 22, 2011

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Islamist militants stormed a naval base in the Pakistani city of Karachi late Sunday, destroying a U.S.-supplied surveillance aircraft, firing rockets and battling commandos sent to subdue them in one of the most brazen attacks in years, officials said.

At least four navy personnel were killed and nine wounded in fighting at the Naval Station Mehran that was going on more than four hours after the strike began, said navy spokesman Irfan ul Haq. He did not know how many militants had been killed or wounded.

Between 10 and 15 attackers entered the high-security facility before splitting up into smaller groups, setting off explosions and hiding in the sprawling facility, he said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Police-3-explosions-rock-Pakistani-air-base-1390475.php

Also according to this BBC report (Pakistan: Militants attack Karachi naval air base), hostages have been taken including Chinese nationals.

[dipsydoodle]

11. It did start off as "airbase" maybe due to the damaged planes.

That was the expression used when it was being broadcast live on UK TV News last night.

Now changed to : Pakistan: Troops 'end attack on Mehran naval air base'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13495127 includes video.

[dipsydoodle]

12. The confusion arose because its a navel airbase

BBC headline now changed again to : Pakistan: Troops 'end attack on Mehran naval air base'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13495127

[Hubert Flottz]

13. Task Force 121?

The PNAC's boys might be at it again.

[cosmicone]

16. Pakistan's terrorist chickens coming home to roost. n/t

[Turborama]

21. .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_Pakistan_since_2001">This is the list of major terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001.

[cosmicone]

22. Thank you. You made my point.

Pakistan used terror as state policy in Afghanistan and in India. It backfired badly.

[Turborama]

23. No, your point was that they were "coming home to roost"as if this was something new

My point is that Pakistan has been constantly plagued with a massive amount of terrorist attacks for at least a decade.

[cosmicone]

24. Yes, precisely.

I didn't say they had "started coming home to roost" ... they have been coming home to roost since 9/11. From 1989 (when the soviets pulled out of Afghanistan) Zia ul Haq's terrorism policy had wreaked havoc in Afghanistan (as Taliban) and in India over Kashmir. Kashmir was peaceful until 1989 with no terrorist attacks.

Terrorism in Pakistan IS indubitably from Pakistan's chickens coming home to roost.

Have you seen such terrorist attacks in Finland or Angola or Argentina? No. Because those countries don't use terrorism as state policy and cultivate terrorists with government money, assistance, training and arms. It is a problem created by Pakistan.

[Turborama]

25. So, the "point" you made is only useful for anyone who hasn't been paying attention...

...for the past 10 years.

And the link I gave will help anyone who hasn't been paying attention to catch up.

Here's another one...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_North-West_Pakistan">The War in North-West Pakistan is an armed conflict between the Pakistan Armed Forces and armed religious groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Islam, TSNM, Arab and Central Asian militants including Al-Qaeda, regional armed movements and elements of organized crime.

(edited to fix formatting)

.

[cosmicone]

28. Almost ALL Pakistani terror groups are ISI subsidiaries.

I have no idea why "Pakistan's chickens coming home to roost" is so bothersome! It is a fact.

All the groups you mentioned were founded, recruited, funded, armed and trained by the Pakistani military and ISI. Most of the members of those groups are actually active-duty Pakistani military out of uniform.

It is too bad that the religious fervor with which they were indoctrinated turned against the creators but when one plays with matches, one sometimes burns one's fingers.

[Turborama]

29. No

Not all of the groups in http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4859980&mesg_id=4860455">post #25 were "founded, recruited, funded, armed and trained by the Pakistani military and ISI."

ETA the important fact that's being made is that the Pakistan armed forces have been at war with them since March 16, 2004 until today (7 years, 68 days). During that time 3,946 security forces members have been killed (including 2,795 soldiers), 8,671 soldiers have been wounded and 17,742 militants killed or captured. These are relevant contemporary facts that should not be ignored in favor of gloating.

[closeupready]

27. So many fallacies, so little time...

nt

[BadtotheboneBob]

17. China joins 'The Fur Ball'...

I'll be interested in the response of the PRC to the taking of their 'nationals' (read: military personnel) as hostages in this action. Also, Pakistan has formally asked the PRC to build a naval base at Gwadar near the entrance to the Persian Gulf to be regularly used by the PLA Navy. I wonder how the terrorist fundies will react to that presence... The plot thickens...

[Eugene]

20. AP: Pakistani commandos retake Karachi naval base

Source: Associated Press

Pakistani commandos retake Karachi naval base

Taliban militants lose control of base 18 hours after deadly attack
seen by many as a humiliating blow to Pakistan's military

Associated Press
guardian.co.uk, Monday 23 May 2011 15.18 BST

Pakistani commandos have regained control of a naval airbase from Taliban militants who attacked then occupied the high-security facility for 18 hours .

The attackers - who may have numbered no more than six - destroyed at least two US-supplied surveillance planes and killed 12 security officers in an assault that began late on Sunday night. At least four of the attackers were killed.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault in Karachi. The group said it was revenge for the American raid that killed Osama bin Laden and that insurgents were under orders to fight until the death.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/23/pakistan-commandos-retake-karachi-base

[sarcasmo]

31. Back to the main page.