Pakistan: Uzbek militant group claims role in airport attack in Karachi

ISLAMABAD – A group that monitors militant activity says Uzbek fighters operating in Pakistan's northwest tribal areas have claimed to have played a role in the attack on the Karachi airport earlier this week.

SITE Intelligence Group said Wednesday that the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan called the attack revenge for airstrikes by the Pakistani army in the tribal regions.

Militants laid siege to the airport late Sunday in a five-hour attack that ended with 36 people dead including the 10 attackers.

The Pakistani Taliban had initially claimed responsibility for the incident. A spokesman for the group could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Pakistan's northwest is home to numerous militant groups who often work together to achieve their goals.