Cathay Pacific cancels Karachi flights after Taliban attack

[ares]

Cathay Pacific cancels Karachi flights after Taliban attack
By Reuters
Published about an hour ago

Pakistan rangers take position after the firing incident near Karachi airport in Karachi on June 10, 2014. — Photo by AFP
HONG KONG: Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd has cancelled all flights to Karachi from Bangkok, the airline said on its website on Wednesday.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the company said in its statement. “Customers are recommended to check flight status before departing for the airport.”

The cancellations came after Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for an attack on a security academy at Karachi's airport on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after an all-night siege by Taliban gunmen at the country's busiest airport.

Cathay Pacific shares were down 0.28 per cent in mid-afternoon trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

An audacious gun-and-explosive attack by heavily armed militants on the country’s busiest airport had left at least 30 dead.

A day after the five-hour long destructive battle, the Airport Security Force (ASF) camp number 2, had also come under a fresh assault. The flight operations were resumed after being temporarily suspended, and routes leading to the airport were cleared for traffic, the Civil Aviation Authority had announced.

Earlier today, the Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen cancelled his visit to Pakistan for an indefinite period.

According to the Foreign Office source, the embassy of Maldives had not replied officially but hinted that the attack at the airport was the reason for cancellation

 

[genmirajborgza786]

its simply sad
Cathay is one of the few international airlines that came to Karachi, the long term damage that this attack on the Karachi int'l airport has caused is immense , to the already fragile image of the country

Cathay cancels Karachi flights as Pakistan reviews security| Reuters

 

[ares]

PCB disappointed after Ireland cancel tour
By AFP
Published about 4 hours ago

— File photo
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed disappointment Wednesday after Ireland cancelled a scheduled tour following a militant siege on Karachi airport that left 37 people dead, dashing hopes of reviving international cricket following a five year hiatus.

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said arrangements for a three-match series with associate team Ireland were close to being finalised. “Ireland team was due to play three one-day matches in Lahore in the first week of September and a lot of effort had gone into convincing them. But all efforts have gone in vain again,” PCB spokesman Agha Akbar told AFP.

Earlier, Ireland had been willing to tour Pakistan, if they were provided satisfactory safety and security. However, their plans have been stalled due to the terrorist attacks in and around Karachi airport,

"Cricket Ireland and the PCB were in advanced discussions to play three ODIs in Pakistan in September," Barry Chambers, Cricket Ireland's spokesperson told ESPN cricinfo.

"Cricket Ireland is obviously very keen to secure as many fixtures as possible against Full Members, and these proposed games would have been very beneficial ahead of the 2015 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup," Chambers said.

This had been discussed by the respective chairman and CEOs during the course of the past three weeks and had also included contact with ICC, security advisors and government.

Following a preliminary agreement, it was decided that three games would be played between the two teams, subject to a security review by credible experts, as well as a mutual agreement from the players and staff. However, the series will now be held at a later date because of the deadly assault on Karachi airport.

Pakistan has not hosted an international cricket team to tour the country since 2009 when the Sri Lanka cricket team was attacked by gunmen in Lahore.

No Test-playing nation has toured Pakistan since then and the team has been forced to play its ‘home’ matches at neutral venues
PCB disappointed after Ireland cancel tour - Sport - DAWN.COM

 

[Informant]

Well such is the outfall.

 

[SamantK]

Of course there would be fall out, ain't that the reason for attacking a civilian airport?

 

[ares]

Maldivian president cancels visit to Pakistan
By The Newspaper's Staff Reporter
Published about 14 hours ago

Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen. – AP Photo
ISLAMABAD: The visit of Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen to Pakistan was cancelled at the eleventh hour for unknown reasons.

However, it is believed that it happened due to the prevailing security situation, especially in light of the attack at Karachi airport, Dawn has learnt from officials in the Foreign Office, interior ministry and police.

President Abdulla Yameen was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on June 11 for a three-day visit.

During his visit, he was to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and also visit his country’s embassy. He was also scheduled to meet representatives of various chambers of commerce, sources said.

All security arrangements had been finalised, they said, however the Maldivian embassy informed the Foreign Office that the trip had been postponed for an indefinite period.

The embassy of Maldives had not replied officially but hinted that the attack at the airport was the reason for cancellation, the Foreign Office source said.

The Foreign Office spokesperson, Tasneem Aslam, said dates for Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen’s visit had yet not been confirmed so the visit was not finalised.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2014

 

[PlanetWarrior]

This is sad. If things go on this way then the terrorists were successful in their mission. The international community needs to be more supportive or else every country in the world will be at the mercy of terrorism

 

[SamantK]

This is sad. If things go on this way then the terrorists were successful in their mission. The international community needs to be more supportive or else every country in the world will be at the mercy of terrorism

Correct, but I don't want my PM to go to Pakistan at least. Already, some people and terrorists are baying for the blood of Modi.

 

[acetophenol]

hats the motive of each and every terror strike- to kill your hopes,shatter your image. But its upto the people of that country to prove'em wrong. US had 9/11,India had Mumbai attacks,London had tube bombings,but in all those cases the people and the countries made out of it. Look Mumbai for example,it was back as the financial capital of one of the largest economies of the planet within hours of the attack. People of India and the world had a million reasons to snap out of the fear instilled by the terrorists. No offence to my Pakistani friends,but IMO,the political and government of Pakistan has given very less reasons for its people to have hope. I mean,Mumbai got its metro the same day as Karachi attack,and what has Pakistan got? Metro buses?

Imagine a theme park and an abandoned house. A death in theme park may reduce its reputation for sometime but will its stop people from visiting it? NO! The lights and the joy will continue luring in people. Now consider the abandoned house,a death in it will quickly give the reputation as a 'ghost house' and no one will ever go there!

 

[PlanetWarrior]

Correct, but I don't want my PM to go to Pakistan at least. Already, some people and terrorists are baying for the blood of Modi.

Many Pakistanis here are claiming that Modi is arming and financially supporting the terrorists. It may be a convenient time for him to visit Pakistan. He could meet with and take stock of the concerns of the government and military of Pakistan when it comes to India before landing in the NWFP or Karachi or Baloch Province to check whether his "assets" in Pakistan are satisfied with his funding and supply of arms. Kill two birds with one stone

 

[Jaanbaz]

Look how happy the Hindutva trolls are.

 

[SQ8]

Look how happy the Hindutva trolls are.

Off course it is. It given them something to do in the otherwise droning existence they have after employment hours are through.

 

[razgriz19]

Cathay Pacific Airways has cancelled all flights to the Pakistani city of Karachi from Bangkok following a Taliban raid on the country's busiest airport this week, as top Pakistani officials debated how to tackle the escalating violence.

International flights in and out of Karachi have been suspended twice since Sunday, when gunmen wearing military uniforms stormed the airport, firing rocket-propelled grenades in an all-night siege that killed 34 people.

• Pakistan's Karachi airport attacked by Taliban gunmen, 18 dead

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely," Cathay said in a statement. "Customers are recommended to check flight status before departing for the airport."

Cathay Pacific shares closed down 0.14 per cent at about $2.04 Cnd on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Airport strikes were 'revenge' attacks
In Islamabad, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting with security officials late on Tuesday to discuss how to handle the crisis as the escalation of violence raised the prospects of an all-out army campaign against insurgent strongholds.

The Pakistani Taliban, a loose alliance of insurgent groups united by anti-state Jihadist ideology, said they had carried out the Karachi attack in response to strikes on their positions on the Afghan border.

Adding an international dimension to the events, Pakistani officials said ethnic Uzbek fighters were behind the attack and a report by a Pakistani monitoring website quoted an Uzbek commander as claiming responsibility.

"Usman Ghazi, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), claimed responsibility for Sunday's terrorist attack," said the site, Pakistan Risk.

The IMU is a group allied with the Taliban which has often carried out attacks alongside it.

"The Uzbek militant group, which has been based in Pakistan's tribal areas since 2002, describes the attacks as revenge for Pakistani airstrikes in North Waziristan on May 21 that targeted areas populated by Uzbek and other foreign militants," Pakistan Risk said.

Earlier, the Taliban's central command also claimed responsibility for the attack.



Taliban wanted to scare international airlines
Pakistan's air force has periodically bombed Taliban hideouts in the ethnic Pashtun belt straddling the border, but has yet to mount a major ground offensive there.

'It looks like the Taliban have taken over the entire country.'- Mohammad Gulfam, Karachi business owner
Security was tight around Karachi airport and the bustling city of 18 million people remained nervous after the twin attacks, though life seemed to have returned to normal, with shops and markets open and people going about daily tasks.

"It looks like the Taliban have taken over the entire country," said Mohammad Gulfam, who owns an electrical appliances shop in Karachi.

"What we want is that the army should carry out a big operation to clear out all the country, so that the public can get some peace of mind."

The Taliban's goal was to scare off international airlines from an airport serving Pakistan's economic and financial nerve centre, said Imtiaz Gul, a security analyst in Islamabad, the capital.

"They (militants) came with a certain design to take an aircraft and passengers hostage and create a scene which would have lasted for many days," Gul added.

"It would have put Pakistan in the international spotlight. That would have meant that foreigners and foreign airlines flying to Pakistani should stop doing that."

Sunday's assault all but destroyed prospects for peace talks between the Taliban and Sharif's government, after months of failed attempts to engage the al-Qaeda-linked militants in dialogue on how to end years of violence.

The Pakistani Taliban are allied with the Afghan militants of the same name and share a similar jihadist ideology.

But they operate as a separate entity, focused entirely on toppling the Pakistani state and establishing strict Islamic rule in the nuclear-armed nation, whereas the Afghan Taliban are united by their campaign against invading foreign forces.




The damage has been done...

 

[Devil Soul]

Cathay Pacific to resume Karachi flights from June 13
By Dawn.com
KARACHI: Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd will be resuming flights to and from Karachistarting Friday (June 13) after having reviewed the situation at Jinnah International Airport, the airline said on its website.

The airline further stated that it was resuming the flights with “additional capacity to help meet demand from recently cancelled flights”.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” it said, recommending travellers "to check their flight status before departing for the airport".

The airline had previously cancelled some flights to Karachi from Bangkok after Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for an attack on an airport security academy near Karachi's Jinnah International Airport on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after an all-night siege by Taliban gunmen at the country's busiest airport.

@Oscar, can we close this thread.... now

 

[pursuit of happiness]

Cathay Pacific Airways has cancelled all flights to the Pakistani city of Karachi from Bangkok following a Taliban raid on the country's busiest airport this week, as top Pakistani officials debated how to tackle the escalating violence.

International flights in and out of Karachi have been suspended twice since Sunday, when gunmen wearing military uniforms stormed the airport, firing rocket-propelled grenades in an all-night siege that killed 34 people.

• Pakistan's Karachi airport attacked by Taliban gunmen, 18 dead

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely," Cathay said in a statement. "Customers are recommended to check flight status before departing for the airport."

Cathay Pacific shares closed down 0.14 per cent at about $2.04 Cnd on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Airport strikes were 'revenge' attacks
In Islamabad, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting with security officials late on Tuesday to discuss how to handle the crisis as the escalation of violence raised the prospects of an all-out army campaign against insurgent strongholds.

The Pakistani Taliban, a loose alliance of insurgent groups united by anti-state Jihadist ideology, said they had carried out the Karachi attack in response to strikes on their positions on the Afghan border.

Adding an international dimension to the events, Pakistani officials said ethnic Uzbek fighters were behind the attack and a report by a Pakistani monitoring website quoted an Uzbek commander as claiming responsibility.

"Usman Ghazi, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), claimed responsibility for Sunday's terrorist attack," said the site, Pakistan Risk.

The IMU is a group allied with the Taliban which has often carried out attacks alongside it.

"The Uzbek militant group, which has been based in Pakistan's tribal areas since 2002, describes the attacks as revenge for Pakistani airstrikes in North Waziristan on May 21 that targeted areas populated by Uzbek and other foreign militants," Pakistan Risk said.

Earlier, the Taliban's central command also claimed responsibility for the attack.



Taliban wanted to scare international airlines
Pakistan's air force has periodically bombed Taliban hideouts in the ethnic Pashtun belt straddling the border, but has yet to mount a major ground offensive there.

'It looks like the Taliban have taken over the entire country.'- Mohammad Gulfam, Karachi business owner
Security was tight around Karachi airport and the bustling city of 18 million people remained nervous after the twin attacks, though life seemed to have returned to normal, with shops and markets open and people going about daily tasks.

"It looks like the Taliban have taken over the entire country," said Mohammad Gulfam, who owns an electrical appliances shop in Karachi.

"What we want is that the army should carry out a big operation to clear out all the country, so that the public can get some peace of mind."

The Taliban's goal was to scare off international airlines from an airport serving Pakistan's economic and financial nerve centre, said Imtiaz Gul, a security analyst in Islamabad, the capital.

"They (militants) came with a certain design to take an aircraft and passengers hostage and create a scene which would have lasted for many days," Gul added.

"It would have put Pakistan in the international spotlight. That would have meant that foreigners and foreign airlines flying to Pakistani should stop doing that."

Sunday's assault all but destroyed prospects for peace talks between the Taliban and Sharif's government, after months of failed attempts to engage the al-Qaeda-linked militants in dialogue on how to end years of violence.

The Pakistani Taliban are allied with the Afghan militants of the same name and share a similar jihadist ideology.

But they operate as a separate entity, focused entirely on toppling the Pakistani state and establishing strict Islamic rule in the nuclear-armed nation, whereas the Afghan Taliban are united by their campaign against invading foreign forces.




The damage has been done...

--
it may temp suspension till things get in normal