ISLAMABAD – At least half a dozen militants attacked an air force base in northern Pakistan with suspected link to the country’s nuclear program before dawn Thursday, sparking a heavy battle that killed two security personnel and left parts of the base in flames, officials said.
The attack on the base in Kamra, located only about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Islamabad, was a brazen reminder of the threat posed by Islamist militants in Pakistan despite numerous military offensives against their sanctuaries along the Afghan border.
The large air base hosts a variety of fighter jets, including F-16s, and contains a factory that makes aircraft and other weapons systems. Some experts suspect the base could house part of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, although the army has denied it has any links to the program.
The safety of the country’s nuclear weapons has been a major concern for the United States. Western experts say Pakistan has about 100 nuclear weapons and is in the midst of a rapid expansion of its arsenal.
The militants, who were wearing explosives, attacked the base at around 2 a.m. with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades and managed to get inside, according to the Pakistani air force. Other militants fired rocket-propelled grenades at the base from outside, damaging one aircraft.