Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif today morning congratulated the armed forces for their glorious accomplishment on what was a difficult day for the nation.
“I salute all the troops who took part in this undefeated counter-terrorism operation”, he said.
Pakistan’s army had been at the forefront of the operation along with paramilitary rangers, police and the airport’s security force.
Earlier heavily armed terrorists stormed the Karachi airport yesterday night and at least 23 people were killed, including all 10 of the attackers.
The attack on Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan’s sprawling commercial hub of over 18 million people, took place as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government tries to engage Pakistani Taliban militants in negotiations to end years of fighting.
Gun battles went on for several hours and television pictures showed fire raging at the airport as ambulances ferried casualties away, but by dawn on Monday, the army said the airport had been secured.
According to army spokesman Major-General Asim Bajwa, the attackers were confined to two areas and ultimately eliminated.
