[DAWN] At least 42 people, including 13 terrorists, were killed as the Pakistain Air Force (PAF) camp at Inqalab road in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
's Badaber area came under attack by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) gunnies early Friday.
Thirteen bad boyz were potted by security forces, Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major-General Asim Bajwa said on Twitter.
Sixteen people offering prayers at a mosque inside the airforce camp were killed by a group of Death Eaters, Bajwa said. Addressing a presser later during the day he said that seven other people were killed in the ablution area of the mosque.
Three PAF technicians were killed in the attack, a PAF spokesperson said, adding that the airmen were deployed at the guardroom when the attack occurred.
Terrorists entered the camp at two points, splitting into sub-groups, Bajwa claimed. The firefight began immediately due to the quick response from security forces, he said.
The attackers were wearing constabulary uniforms.
Pakistain Army's Captain Asfandyar was killed in the attack.
The DG ISPR said 10 soldiers were maimed during an exchange of fire with turbans -- two of whom are officers.
Rescue sources, however, said 22 people have been injured, out of whom 20 have been shifted to CMH Peshawar and two have been taken to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). An emergency has been declared in both hospitals. Dr Subhani at LRH said one unidentified body had been brought to the hospital.
TTP spokesperson Muhammad Khurasani grabbed credit for the attack in an e-mail sent to journalists.
A search operation for hidden turbans is underway, Bajwa said. Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Hidayatur Rehman conducted aerial surveillance of the base from a helicopter.
Around 15 people were nabbed
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
during the search operation, police said.
The attack was carried out by a group of seven to 10 terrorists, the DG ISPR said earlier, while eyewitnesses claimed they saw around six to seven turbans dressed in black militia uniforms wearing white shoes.
A military official at the base said, "All the turbans were wearing explosives-laden jackets and were armed with hand grenades, mortars, AK-47 rifles."
Nearby residents said kabooms and gunfire could still be heard more than three hours after the attack took place.
When the attack occurred, a heavy contingent of the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) reached the spot. An exchange of fire between the gunnies and security forces took place. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
(KP) police have cordoned off the area.
The DG ISPR said turbans had attacked the guard room at the camp early in the morning. The QRF reached the scene and surrounded the attackers, isolating them.
The turbans had been engaged and confined to a small area around the guard room area of the camp.
The Badaber camp used to be an operational airforce base. It is no longer an operational airbase but is still used as a PAF training centre.
The base is on one side of the road, while a residential estate lies on the opposite side.