After the terrorist attack on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, intelligence agencies believe that the next target of militants might be Karachi Seaport, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Karachi Seaport, like the Karachi airport, is a strategic facility being used by the United States Army as it prepares to withdraw from Afghanistan this year.
The attack on Karachi airport’s old terminal was carried out by heavily-armed militants of the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), who were on a suicidal mission to lay siege to the airport, inflict maximum damage, hold hostages and create psychological fear.
According to a security official familiar with the probe details, the militants entered through Engineering Section of the airport, using a passageway near the old terminal. After entering the building, the terrorists eliminated Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel and made their way towards the tarmac, cargo and workshop.
The Army’s quick response did not allow the militants to take full control of the airport but 19 lives were lost as a gun battle ensued between the Army and miscreants.
The gory drama ended when all the 10 militants were killed.
A source in the defense establishment has said that the country’s premier intelligence agency, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), has received information that militants of TTP are planning to attack all facilities used to assist the drawdown process of US troops from Afghanistan, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.
Soon after the Karachi airport attack, TTP Spokesman Shahidullah Shahid had claimed responsibility of the attack, stating that the attack had been carried out to avenge the killing of slain TTP commander Hakimullah Mehsud who was killed in a drone strike.
The source said that Karachi airport was attacked to sabotage the US drawdown.
“In this context, the possibility of TTP’s next attack on Karachi Seaport cannot be ruled out,” the official added.
Responding to a question, the official said that the Indian involvement cannot be ruled out as some weapons used by the terrorists were of Indian make.
The official said that the Indian consulate in Heart, Afghanistan, was attacked by terrorists and Afghan President Hamid Karzai had blamed Pakistan for the attack.
“RAW’s retaliatory move came in the form of the Karachi airport attack,” the official asserted.
The official added that Indian involvement in FATA instigated the TTP militants to attack the airport.
Recently Abdullah Abdullah (Afghan presidential candidate) narrowly escaped in an assassination attempt for which fingers were allegedly pointed towards Pakistan. This incident could also have prompted the Afghan leadership to instigate the TTP militants to take revenge by attacking Karachi Airport, using the Indo-Afghan nexus working in the tribal belt.
The official said that blaming the intelligence agencies for having failed to see the possibility of an attack at Karachi airport was not justified.
“Threat warnings were issued thrice for which the executive branch of Sindh government was to take necessary counter measures. Weakness of identification and spotting process was exploited by the militants,” he said, adding that the process requires improvement.
The official added that the attack on Karachi airport suggested that the Crisis Management Cell of the Interior Ministry could not arrange timely media-briefing on the subject. The same is required to be managed under all such crisis situations, he maintained.
“The responsibility of such attacks must be taken by political leadership as they make critical decisions and stand accountable for their judgment/options in a democratic set up. The Army, Rangers, Police and ASF must be applauded for their performance, timely reaction and sacrifice. Militants could not expand their initial penetration into the airport and were obstructed in the achievement of their goals. Credit goes to the security personnel for their excellent performance and professional competence,” the official asserted.
The official also criticised the ‘irresponsible behaviour’ of some television channels covering the Army’s response to the militants, stating that the media recklessly failed to show maturity in airing the live coverage of the airport operation.
“A line must be drawn beyond which media should not be allowed to operate,” he said.
He said that certain information, including different steps or techniques used by the armed forces, supervision of the operation by a particular tier of command, arrival of higher officials and reports submitted to Army’s high command should have been censored as the same information was also made available to terrorists through the live coverage.
“Live coverage of security personnel moving in a particular direction was utterly irresponsible and disturbing as such movements were part of an ongoing operation, the outcome of which was yet to be decided. The operation was to proceed in different phases to eliminate the terrorists. This required the media to show sustainable patience, calmness, self-control and forbearance while conducting live coverage of this operation,” the official said.
“Generally live media coverage of an operation is allowed to support forces to succeed in their assigned mission of eliminating terrorists. Unfortunately, while covering the Karachi airport attack, the media failed to keep sight of their aim and showed irresponsibility by spreading unconfirmed reports. Such coverage could have jeopardised the entire operation, putting precious lives in danger,” he said.
He said that in a crisis situation, lives are at risk and the media should not disclose names of victims, vital locations, forces/weapon used and tactics adopted.
“It is also the duty of the media to create and maintain a sense of hope among domestic audience, especially when the operation is still going on,” he said.
He said that official press briefings are essential as their absence would add to chaos and a state of uncertainty.
“Contents of media reports, especially during live coverage, must be properly monitored and strongly censored prior to broadcast. Media must follow a code of conduct and journalistic ethics as envisaged by the profession of journalism and in accordance with the national interests,” he said.