All flights to the airport were either cancelled or re-directed to Islamabad on Wednesday after a terrorist threat against civilian aircraft

PESHAWAR: Peshawar International Airport was shut down on Wednesday after intelligence report warned of a possible terrorist attack against civilian aircraft from a militant group based in the adjoining tribal region, officials said.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a notice to airmen (Notam) on Tuesday night and cabled all national and international carriers to stop their flights to Peshawar International Airpot from Wednesday.

An official, requesting he not be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the airport would remain closed till Thursday night but the issuance of a Notam implied that it would remain shut till the situation stabilized. ‘Looks like it is indefinite,’ the official said.

A security official said the airport was shut down after an intelligence agency warned of a possible terrorist attack against passenger aircrafts from a militant group based in the Darra Adamkhel tribal region.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Darra Adamkhel led by Tariq Afridi, a militant previously associated with Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, had warned of attacking passenger aircrafts of the government did not stop operations against militants in Malakand, Bajaur and other tribal areas.

His last deadline to the government to stop military operations expired on Monday. It was not immediately clear whether the intelligence warning was based on some intercept or was a precautionary measure to avoid any mishap.

Passengers were evacuated from domestic and international departure lounges of the airport and all flights have been diverted to Benazir International Airport in Islamabad.  

CAA officials said that airport was closed for technical reasons till 12midnight. But passengers said that they were informed by the terminal staff that there would be no flight operations for next three days 

All entry points to the airport were closed and passengers said that they saw movement of troops. Hundreds of passengers waiting at the departure lounge were asked to leave the premises and all flights had been cancelled.

Amir Khan, a passenger said that they waited at the departure lounge for four hours and initially announcements were made that Dubai-bound flight had been delayed due to technical fault in the aircraft.

‘At about 4pm passengers were asked to leave departure lounge because flights have been cancelled due to unknown reasons,’ he said. Many roads leading towards the airport have already been blocked by the police and army for private and public transport.