The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani army on Saturday said it foiled a terrorist attack on the Mianwali air base in the northeastern Punjab province early morning and killed all nine terrorists.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media-wing of the Pakistani army, said they cleared the base and surrounding areas and neutralized the terrorists .

"Alhumdolliah, combing and clearance operation at PAF Training Airbase Mianwali has been concluded and all nine terrorists have been sent to hell," said ISPR

"The successful operation was launched by security forces to eliminate any potential threat in the surrounding area following the cowardly and failed terrorist attack on the base this morning.

"No damage has been done to any of the PAF’s functional operational assets, while only some damage was done to three already phased out non-operational aircraft during the attack.

"The prompt and professional conclusion of the operation serves as a stark reminder to all enemies of peace that Pakistan's Armed Forces remain vigilant and are fully capable of defending the homeland from any threat," it added.

Earlier, the military said in the early hours of the day, the Mianwali Training Air Base of Pakistan Air Force came under a failed terrorist attack, which, Alhamdulillah, due to the swift and effective response by the troops, has been foiled and thwarted, ensuring the safety and security of personnel and assets.

The Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the mother network of several Pakistani militant groups, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The latest attack came just a day after a series of incidents including two explosions in which 16 security personnel and four civilians were killed in Dera Ismail Khan district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Gwadar district of southwestern Balochistan province on Friday.

The latest wave of terror attacks occurred just a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan announced that the much-awaited general elections will be held on Feb. 8.