The Bannu Airport was once again attacked with rockets in the small hours of Saturday, giving strength to speculation that a military operation was being carried out in the vicinity against the remnants of the Taliban or Al Qaeda. Three rockets were fired at the airport which is normally used for logistic and military exercises of the Pakistan Army. Major General Shoukat Sultan confirmed the attack and said, âThere was a rocket attack on the airport but no loss of property or life has been reported. We are investigating.â Locals feared a military operation against the remnants of Al Qaeda or the Taliban.
| "No, no! Can't have that!" |
Early this week 26 helicopters and dozens of Army vehicles was witnessed in the area, but the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), an information wing of the Pakistan Army, said the movement was part of routine military exercises close to the border. Later ISPR said the exercise had been terminated, but did not assign reasons. However, people in the North Waziristan Agency and Bannu denied any such exercises in the past. Helicopters were seen flying from the Bannu airport, military trucks carrying what appeared special services personnel towards the mountainous range in the area and such movement continued for more than three days, another local requesting anonymity said. Sources said one of the rockets hit the runway where three helicopters were standing, but it did not explode. The other two rockets exploded at a distance from the airport, sources added. |