13 killed in Pak naval base attack

Fifteen hours after brazenly storming into Pakistan navy's key Mehran airbase in the heart of the port city of Karachi, heavily-armed Taliban militants were still holding onto parts of the base after destroying two US-made surveillance aircraft and killing 13 security personnel.

Pakistan army's elite Special Service Group and naval commandos backed by helicopters were hunting down a group of 15-20 militants, who stormed into the sprawling naval complex last night in the worst assault on a military base since the Army Headquarters was besieged in October 2009 in Rawalpindi.

The terrorists in a well coordinated attack sneaked into the complex, reportedly housing US-acquired P-3C Orions, long-range maritime reconnaissance planes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles and were locked in continuing gun battle with the security forces.

Eleven naval personnel, including a lieutenant, and two paramilitary troopers were killed till Monday noon, naval spokesperson Irfan-ul-Haq told the media.