Pakistan commandos regain control of Mehran air base; 14 killed

Pakistani commandos today regained control of a key military airbase that was stormed by Taliban fighters after 16 hours of gun battles that killed 10 security personnel and destroyed two US-made surveillance planes.

Four militants were also killed. They were a part of the group of heavily armed terrorists who made the brazen attack on PNS Mehran, the naval air station within Faisal airbase, at about 10.40pm last night.

Within minutes of entering the base, the attackers lobbed grenades and fired rockets that destroyed two US-made P3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft.

The attackers then exchanged heavy fire with security forces within the airbase before holing up in several buildings.

Scores of elite naval and army commandos were brought in to flush out the terrorists and the operation to clear the airbase ended this afternoon.

Interior minister Rehman Malik told reporters that 10 security personnel, including a navy lieutenant and three naval commandos, were killed and 15 others injured.

The attack was carried out by about six terrorists, four of whom had died while two got away, he said.

At least one of the dead terrorists was a suicide bomber who blew himself up, Malik said.

The minister initially said 15 security personnel had died in the attack but subsequently revised the figure.

Malik said 17 foreigners who were on the airbase ?" including 11 Chinese and six Americans ?" were removed to safety by security forces.