Militants targeted Navy, not aircrafts: Naval Chief

KARACHI: The chief of Pakistan Navy Admiral Nauman Bashir, rejecting the impression that terrorists wanted to cause material damage to Navy, has said that terrorists targeted the Naval forces, Geo News reported Sunday.

Naval Chief was addressing a press conference here after completion of retaliatory operation by Pakistan’s armed forces to regain complete control of PNS Mehran.

He said two destroyed aircrafts P-3C Orion were worth $40 million. “Terrorists stormed PNS Mehran from Eastern side and were well experienced sharpshooters.”

“After entering into naval base, two of the militants mounted atop a tower while as many hid themselves behind the bushes,” he revealed, adding that they later fired six rockets.

Nauman dismissed rumors of security breach. “This attack could not be termed as security lapse,” he stated.

Navy commandos reached the base three minutes after armed assault, he added. He said that Lieutenant Yasir led the retaliatory operation and was martyred in the process.

After the first assault, the terrorists were completely restrained from carrying out more attack, he added.

To a question, Admiral Nauman Bashir said that terrorists escaped through the same route from which they entered the Naval facility. “I remained in constant touch with President, Prime Minister and other top security personnel,” he informed.

He expressed the confidence that the investigation would uncover the militants involved in the assault.