Pak Navy admits security failure in PNS Mehran incident
01 June, 2011
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy, on Tuesday, admitted that “security failure” led to the terrorist attack on PNS Mehran naval airbase. The navy also assured that it would share the findings of its inquiry into the incident with the Senate’s Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production.
A closed-door meeting of the Senate’s committee was held under the chairmanship of Senator Lt Gen (r) Javed Ashraf Qazi to discuss the causes of security failure at PNS Mehran that was attacked by terrorists on May 22. Pakistan Navy Vice Admiral Shafqat Javed briefed the committee about the incident as well as security arrangements that were in place when the terrorists sneaked into the naval airbase. “By and large, it was the same old information which was shared with the committee. Navy officials were reluctant to share anything new as an inquiry into this incident is underway,” sources told our sources on condition of anonymity.
“Once the inquiry is completed, then we would be able to share information with the committee,” officials of the navy maintained.
However, they admitted that it was a security lapse that led to loss of many precious lives and damages to the navy in the form of devastation of two surveillance aircraft.
It was also informed that delay in clearing the base from the terrorists was caused due to transportation of many other aircraft and helicopters to safer places.
Navy officials told the committee that at the time of the attack, there were eleven Chinese and six Americans at the base, but terrorists didn’t make any attempt to take them hostage.
The meeting was attended by senators Prof Khursheed Ahmed, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Haji Adeel Khan, Faisal Raza Abidi and Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani.
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