Security heightened at Peshawar Airport

PESHAWAR: The security at Peshawar Airport has been heightened following the pre-dawn assault at Kamra air base that left nine militants and a security official dead Thursday, Geo News reported.

According to sources, security has been tightened after the militants stormed Kamra air base early today as heavy contingents of security forces have been deployed at all entry and exit points of the airport.

The airport sources also told that the security forces have been equipped with latest weapons to counter any untoward incident.

Militants dressed in uniforms and armed with guns and rocket launchers stormed PAF base Kamra, sparking heavy clashes that left nine militants and a security official dead while a plane was also damaged.

The base commander, who led the counter-attack, was also injured in the battle.

The attack comes amid speculation that Pakistan could launch an operation against militants in the tribal district of North Waziristan.

The Air Force said the attackers with rocket propelled-grenades and suicide vests attacked the base, home to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex that assembles Mirage and JF-17 fighter jets, at 2:00 am today.

The security forces completed the operation after hours of attack while all the dead attackers were identified as foreigners.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the Pakistani Taliban have targeted a string of military bases since rising up against the government in July 2007.