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| A Bold Counterpunch Shows Taliban’s Lasting Strength | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — Only weeks ago, the Pakistani Taliban appeared to be on the ropes. Violent rivalries split the insurgency in two. Peace talks with the government collapsed. Military jets pounded militant hide-outs in the tribal belt. | LONDON — Only weeks ago, the Pakistani Taliban appeared to be on the ropes. Violent rivalries split the insurgency in two. Peace talks with the government collapsed. Military jets pounded militant hide-outs in the tribal belt. |
| And so, with a point to prove, the Taliban hit back. | And so, with a point to prove, the Taliban hit back. |
| On Sunday night, 10 militant fighters, disguised as government security forces and armed with rocket launchers and suicide vests, stormed the Karachi airport. They came with food, water and ammunition, in apparent preparation for a long siege, but also with big ambitions: perhaps to hijack a commercial airliner, government officials said on Monday, or to blow up an oil depot, or to destroy airplanes on the tarmac. | On Sunday night, 10 militant fighters, disguised as government security forces and armed with rocket launchers and suicide vests, stormed the Karachi airport. They came with food, water and ammunition, in apparent preparation for a long siege, but also with big ambitions: perhaps to hijack a commercial airliner, government officials said on Monday, or to blow up an oil depot, or to destroy airplanes on the tarmac. |
| Paramilitary guards pinned the fighters down in a cargo terminal, in a firefight that blazed through the night. After five hours, as stranded passengers waited anxiously in parked airplanes, it was over, with 29 people dead and the cargo building on fire. | Paramilitary guards pinned the fighters down in a cargo terminal, in a firefight that blazed through the night. After five hours, as stranded passengers waited anxiously in parked airplanes, it was over, with 29 people dead and the cargo building on fire. |
| Yet the audacious assault shook the country to its core. It showed how, despite the Taliban’s challenges and deepening divisions, their reach has extended far from their tribal redoubt into Pakistan’s biggest city. With several jihadists from Uzbekistan among the dead, the attack also demonstrated how the Taliban can still draw on an international militant network to conduct sophisticated operations against high-profile targets across the country. | Yet the audacious assault shook the country to its core. It showed how, despite the Taliban’s challenges and deepening divisions, their reach has extended far from their tribal redoubt into Pakistan’s biggest city. With several jihadists from Uzbekistan among the dead, the attack also demonstrated how the Taliban can still draw on an international militant network to conduct sophisticated operations against high-profile targets across the country. |
| And it may be a sign of more violence to come. | And it may be a sign of more violence to come. |
| “This marks an escalation of the war,” said Adil Najam, the dean of the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. “And it shows that this is going to be a long war.” | “This marks an escalation of the war,” said Adil Najam, the dean of the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. “And it shows that this is going to be a long war.” |
| The spokesman for the main Pakistani Taliban faction, Shahidullah Shahid, said as much, calling the strike in Karachi “a response to the recent attacks by the government.” And even as he said the group was still interested in talking peace with the government, he promised that, in the meantime, “We will continue carrying out such attacks.” | The spokesman for the main Pakistani Taliban faction, Shahidullah Shahid, said as much, calling the strike in Karachi “a response to the recent attacks by the government.” And even as he said the group was still interested in talking peace with the government, he promised that, in the meantime, “We will continue carrying out such attacks.” |
| Explosions and gunfire rang out across the airport in the early morning hours on Monday as the police and security forces battled with the attackers. Just before 5 a.m., after five hours of siege, the military reported that the last of the 10 attackers had been killed. | Explosions and gunfire rang out across the airport in the early morning hours on Monday as the police and security forces battled with the attackers. Just before 5 a.m., after five hours of siege, the military reported that the last of the 10 attackers had been killed. |
| The chief minister of Sindh Province, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, told reporters that in addition to the 10 attackers, 19 other people had died, including 11 members of the Airport Security Force, five local airline officials and three others. “They were well trained,” he said of the assailants. “Their plan was very well thought out.” | The chief minister of Sindh Province, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, told reporters that in addition to the 10 attackers, 19 other people had died, including 11 members of the Airport Security Force, five local airline officials and three others. “They were well trained,” he said of the assailants. “Their plan was very well thought out.” |
| Maj. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar, the director general of a paramilitary force that is deployed in Karachi, told reporters that the attackers appeared to be of Uzbek origin. General Akhtar said the attackers came in two groups of five each. Three attackers detonated their explosive vests, while seven were killed by security forces, he said. | Maj. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar, the director general of a paramilitary force that is deployed in Karachi, told reporters that the attackers appeared to be of Uzbek origin. General Akhtar said the attackers came in two groups of five each. Three attackers detonated their explosive vests, while seven were killed by security forces, he said. |
| The assault was the most ambitious of its kind in Pakistan since Islamist militants attacked a navy air base in central Karachi in 2011. Although elite commandos moved quickly to counter the airport assault, many Pakistanis expressed shock that militants could penetrate such a prominent target so thoroughly and raised questions about why the attack had not been prevented by the military’s powerful spy service, the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence. | The assault was the most ambitious of its kind in Pakistan since Islamist militants attacked a navy air base in central Karachi in 2011. Although elite commandos moved quickly to counter the airport assault, many Pakistanis expressed shock that militants could penetrate such a prominent target so thoroughly and raised questions about why the attack had not been prevented by the military’s powerful spy service, the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence. |
| The attack began late Sunday, when the gunmen made it past security checkpoints near the airport’s old terminal, which is mostly used for cargo or private flights for senior government officials and business leaders. Some news reports said the men wore identification saying they were members of the Airport Security Force. | The attack began late Sunday, when the gunmen made it past security checkpoints near the airport’s old terminal, which is mostly used for cargo or private flights for senior government officials and business leaders. Some news reports said the men wore identification saying they were members of the Airport Security Force. |
| Hurling grenades and unleashing automatic weapons fire, the attackers at least initially moved toward the nearby web of runways as they fought, according to news and witness reports. | Hurling grenades and unleashing automatic weapons fire, the attackers at least initially moved toward the nearby web of runways as they fought, according to news and witness reports. |
| News images showed a major fire blazing in the airport complex that filled the night sky with an orange glow and appeared to be near parked jets. But a senior spokesman for the Pakistani military, Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa, denied news reports that two planes had caught fire. He also denied reports that the gunmen had been trying to hijack an airliner. | News images showed a major fire blazing in the airport complex that filled the night sky with an orange glow and appeared to be near parked jets. But a senior spokesman for the Pakistani military, Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa, denied news reports that two planes had caught fire. He also denied reports that the gunmen had been trying to hijack an airliner. |
| All flights to Karachi were diverted to other airports. Television pictures showed ambulances racing from the airport, which is named after Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, ferrying people to the hospital. | |
| Although the fighting took place away from the main terminal used by commercial airlines, some passengers were stranded on airplanes that had been about to take off when the assault started. | Although the fighting took place away from the main terminal used by commercial airlines, some passengers were stranded on airplanes that had been about to take off when the assault started. |
| At one point, Syed Saim A. Rizvi, a Twitter user who said he was on a flight, reported that commandos from the army’s elite Special Services Group had taken control of his plane. Moments later, he reported a “huge blast” and heavy firing outside and a “full panic” on board. | At one point, Syed Saim A. Rizvi, a Twitter user who said he was on a flight, reported that commandos from the army’s elite Special Services Group had taken control of his plane. Moments later, he reported a “huge blast” and heavy firing outside and a “full panic” on board. |
| Two hours later, he said that the Pakistani military had safely evacuated all passengers from the plane. | Two hours later, he said that the Pakistani military had safely evacuated all passengers from the plane. |
| A spokeswoman at Jinnah Hospital in Karachi, Dr. Seemi Jamali, said that in addition to the dead, at least 16 people had been seriously injured. | A spokeswoman at Jinnah Hospital in Karachi, Dr. Seemi Jamali, said that in addition to the dead, at least 16 people had been seriously injured. |
| A senior officer with the Rangers, the paramilitary force that helps secure the airport, told reporters that the attackers had been carrying Indian weapons, in an apparent suggestion of Indian involvement that was greeted with widespread derision on social media. | A senior officer with the Rangers, the paramilitary force that helps secure the airport, told reporters that the attackers had been carrying Indian weapons, in an apparent suggestion of Indian involvement that was greeted with widespread derision on social media. |
| A tentative peace process with the Taliban, begun by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government in February, has disintegrated in recent weeks. The militant group has split into at least two factions, in part over disagreements about whether to negotiate with the government. The Pakistani Army renewed a campaign of airstrikes against the militants in North Waziristan two weeks ago, and factions of the Taliban were believed to be behind a deadly attack on a high-security military complex near Rawalpindi last week. | A tentative peace process with the Taliban, begun by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government in February, has disintegrated in recent weeks. The militant group has split into at least two factions, in part over disagreements about whether to negotiate with the government. The Pakistani Army renewed a campaign of airstrikes against the militants in North Waziristan two weeks ago, and factions of the Taliban were believed to be behind a deadly attack on a high-security military complex near Rawalpindi last week. |
| Karachi, a city that was long a haven for militant fighters, financiers and sleeper cells, has in recent years become increasingly contested by the Taliban and other militants. Many have moved in from the country’s northwestern tribal regions and have become embroiled in the violent political turf battles that have racked the city. | Karachi, a city that was long a haven for militant fighters, financiers and sleeper cells, has in recent years become increasingly contested by the Taliban and other militants. Many have moved in from the country’s northwestern tribal regions and have become embroiled in the violent political turf battles that have racked the city. |
| The situation is further complicated by political uncertainty. Last week, Karachi was shut down for three days after the British police arrested Altaf Hussain, the leader of the city’s biggest political party, who lives in London, on suspicion of money laundering. Mr. Hussain was released on Saturday but remains under investigation. | |
| In a further demonstration of the brittle security situation across Pakistan, at least 23 Shiites were reported killed on Sunday in a coordinated suicide bombing in a remote part of Baluchistan Province, on the border with Iran. The Associated Press quoted provincial officials as saying that the Shiites were attacked while returning from a pilgrimage to Iran. | In a further demonstration of the brittle security situation across Pakistan, at least 23 Shiites were reported killed on Sunday in a coordinated suicide bombing in a remote part of Baluchistan Province, on the border with Iran. The Associated Press quoted provincial officials as saying that the Shiites were attacked while returning from a pilgrimage to Iran. |
| Although the Taliban have frequently been behind attacks on Shiites and other religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan, such violence in Baluchistan has more often been waged by other sectarian militias like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Human rights officials have accused Pakistan’s military of aiding or turning a blind eye toward those groups, as they are considered its allies in a long war against Baluch separatists. | Although the Taliban have frequently been behind attacks on Shiites and other religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan, such violence in Baluchistan has more often been waged by other sectarian militias like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Human rights officials have accused Pakistan’s military of aiding or turning a blind eye toward those groups, as they are considered its allies in a long war against Baluch separatists. |
| At least 10 members of the security forces were killed in the 2011 attack on the Mehran naval base, which also destroyed two surveillance planes provided to Pakistan by the United States and deeply embarrassed the country’s military. | At least 10 members of the security forces were killed in the 2011 attack on the Mehran naval base, which also destroyed two surveillance planes provided to Pakistan by the United States and deeply embarrassed the country’s military. |
| In December 2012, Taliban militants struck the airport in Peshawar, the main city in Pakistan’s northwest, killing seven people. That attack was suspected of being aimed at a military facility inside the airport’s boundaries. | In December 2012, Taliban militants struck the airport in Peshawar, the main city in Pakistan’s northwest, killing seven people. That attack was suspected of being aimed at a military facility inside the airport’s boundaries. |