KARACHI
A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban says the group was behind the five-hour assault on the international airport in Karachi that killed 18 people.
Shahidullah Shahid, the spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, said in a statement Monday that the insurgents carried out the attack at the Jinnah International Airport.
Shahid says the attack was in “revenge for the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud,” the Taliban chief who died in a drone strike last November, and warned of more attacks.
The claim comes weeks the government-led peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban floundered.
At least 28 people were killed, including 10 militants in a 6-hour military operation when heavily-armed militants launched an attack on Jinnah International Airport on Sunday night.
Eight Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel were injured while one Rangers man was martyred in the attack.
18 victims, including the security troops and four airport workers have been identified by families.
Four others were also reported to be injured.