According
to a media report, Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP)
Chief Hakimullah Mehsud on August
1 directed his fighters to step
up attacks in Punjab province,
especially on intelligence organisations
and military facilities like the
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base
in Lahore District, reported Indian
Express. The TTP chief has
decided to increase terrorist
attacks in Punjab to "inflict
maximum damage", especially
in the provincial capital of Lahore,
The Express Tribune quoted
its sources as saying. During
a secret meeting held at Asad
Khel village in the lawless North
Waziristan Agency of Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA),
Mehsud allocated PKR 25 million
for attacks targeting the PAF
base in Lahore and offices of
the Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI), Military Intelligence,
Intelligence Bureau and Counter-Terrorism
Department.
The
daily quoted an intelligence report
as saying that the meeting in
North Waziristan Agency was attended
by top TTP ‘commanders’, including
leaders of the Qari Yasin group,
which is listed in the Police's
"Red Book" as a high-profile
terrorist organisation. The militants
have allegedly carried out reconnaissance
of the PAF base in Lahore and
some local employees were "also
collaborating with terrorists",
the report said. Weapons and ammunition
for the attack will be "provided
by concealing them using cargo
companies", the report added.
Another intelligence report stated
that the TTP were planning attacks
similar to the one on the Mehran
naval airbase in Karachi in May
2011. |
