The Pakistani military said Saturday that militants attacked an air force training base in the central city of Mianwali in the morning, destroying three planes and launching multiple attacks in other areas a day ago, killing 22 people, most of whom were soldiers.
The military statement stated that security forces killed three people before the attackers entered the base, and killed another six people in the subsequent conflict. The military adopts a "rapid and effective response" to thwart "terrorist" attacks and "ensure the safety of facility personnel
However, during the attack, three planes that had already been parked on the ground and one tanker also suffered some losses, "the statement said
The Tehreek e Jihad Pakistan claimed to have planned the attack. The organization has launched several attacks on security forces in recent months, including an attack on a military base in southwestern Baluchistan province in July, killing 12 Pakistani soldiers.
Anti government forces ambushed a military convoy in Gwadar District, Balochistan Province a day ago, killing 14 soldiers. There is a Chinese managed Gwadar Deep Water Port in this area.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the Gwadar incident, but Baluchistan militants who regularly attack security forces are suspected of being responsible. This rebel group accuses China and Pakistan of using natural resources such as oil, copper, and iron ore in the province.
Officials and the military reported on Friday that at least 5 civilians and 3 soldiers were killed in a bomb explosion and clashes with militants associated with the "Pakistani Taliban Jihad Movement" in Khyber Pashtun Province.
The militants led by the Pakistan Taliban Jihad Movement and the Baluchistan rebels have recently intensified their attacks in these two provinces. The violence has resulted in over 700 deaths in Pakistan this year, including among civilians and security forces. The military confirmed the deaths of nearly 240 soldiers.
Pakistani officials say that radical leaders and fighters use Afghan land to plan cross-border attacks, and the Afghan Taliban denies this accusation. The 'Pakistani Taliban Jihad Movement' is known as the Pakistani Taliban.
The sparsely populated Baluchistan Province has a 900 kilometer long border with Iran and has received a lot of Chinese investment in recent years under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The Baluchistan rebels also attacked Chinese people related to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project and killed several people since the launch of this major project 10 years ago.