Militants targeted Navy, not aircrafts: Pak 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 aimed at rendering collateral damage to Pakistan naval force, Geo News reported Sunday.
Naval Chief was addressing a press conference here after all the terrorists were eliminated in 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 corner and were well-trained sharpshooters."
"After securing entry into naval base, two of them got onto a tower while as many remaining hid themselves behind bushes," he revealed adding, they subsequently 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 not allowed to continue attack any further, he added.
To a question, Admiral Nauman Bashir said that terrorists succeeded to flee the base after assault. "I remained in constant touch with President, Prime Minister and other top security personnel," he informed.
He vowed to capture all involved terrorists after investigation into assault.
Militants targeted Navy, not aircrafts: Naval Chief