Pak sounds red alert at airports after Kamra airbase attack

 Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority has sounded a red alert at all airports across the country following the terrorist attack on Kamra airbase, a senior official said on Friday.

“Due to the present uncertain situation in the country, all airports have been put on red alert,” said Hamid Gardezi, principal director of airport services. He directed all airport managers to beef up security and ensure full coordination with security agencies and the local administration.

“The managers of airports used by both civilian flights and military aircraft should coordinate with concerned authorities for enhancing security arrangements,” he said.
Gardezi further directed authorities to step up surveillance and vigil at the entry and exit points of airports, terminal buildings, car parks, navigational aids, and areas around the runways.

A group of heavily armed terrorists stormed the Kamra airbase in Punjab province early on Thursday. Nine militants and two security personnel were killed in a three-hour standoff at the airbase.

A Saab-2000 airborne early warning aircraft of the Pakistan air force has been damaged in the terrorist attack, said Defence Minister Naveed Qamar. After initial repairs in Pakistan, the aircraft will be sent to Sweden — where it was manufactured — for an inspection, he said.

Qamar said the aircraft was hit either by bullets or fragments of a rocket-propelled grenade fired by the terrorists. It was not clear whether the plane was airworthy.
“A test flight of the aircraft will be conducted after repairing it,” the minister said.
“The engineers and technicians of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex have examined the partially damaged aircraft, and according to the initial report, this most advanced aircraft of the Saab-2000 category can be repaired,” he said.

The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out to avenge the killing of Osama bin Laden.