Troops agitate Taliban marksman holed up in Pakistan's naval air force headquarters on Monday after the most audacious attack in the unstable, nuclear-armed country since the killing of Osama bin Laden.
Blasts be gird out and helicopters hovered above in the city of Karachi, nearly 12 hours after more than 20 Pakistani Taliban militants stormed the building with guns and grenades, blowing up at least one aircraft.
However, security officials and a senior minister said the operation appeared to be coming to an end.
"A major area has been cleared," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told "The sweeping process is continuing."
The bushwhack casts fresh doubt on the Pakistan military's ability to protect its bases following an attack on the army headquarters in the city of Rawalpindi in 2009, and is a further embarrassment following the surprise raid by US special forces on bin Laden's hideout north of Islamabad on May 2.
The Pakistan Taliban, which is cognate with al Qaeda, said the attack was to avenge the al Qaeda leader's killing.
"It was the revenge of crucifixion of Osama bin Laden. It was the proof that we are still united and powerful," Taliban agent Ehsanullah Ehsan told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Sporadic bouts of heavy gunfire erupted from the base as security forces battled to end the siege. Twelve military personnel were killed and 14 wounded in the assault that started at 10.30 p.m. on Sunday a navy agent said.
The operation is still on but resistance from militants has reduced significantly. A security source said at least threemilitants had been killed.
Blasts be gird out and helicopters hovered above in the city of Karachi, nearly 12 hours after more than 20 Pakistani Taliban militants stormed the building with guns and grenades, blowing up at least one aircraft.
However, security officials and a senior minister said the operation appeared to be coming to an end.
"A major area has been cleared," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told "The sweeping process is continuing."
The bushwhack casts fresh doubt on the Pakistan military's ability to protect its bases following an attack on the army headquarters in the city of Rawalpindi in 2009, and is a further embarrassment following the surprise raid by US special forces on bin Laden's hideout north of Islamabad on May 2.
The Pakistan Taliban, which is cognate with al Qaeda, said the attack was to avenge the al Qaeda leader's killing.
"It was the revenge of crucifixion of Osama bin Laden. It was the proof that we are still united and powerful," Taliban agent Ehsanullah Ehsan told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Sporadic bouts of heavy gunfire erupted from the base as security forces battled to end the siege. Twelve military personnel were killed and 14 wounded in the assault that started at 10.30 p.m. on Sunday a navy agent said.
The operation is still on but resistance from militants has reduced significantly. A security source said at least threemilitants had been killed.
