Saturday, October 10, 2009

Pakistan's Army Headquarter Under Attack - Terrorists Eliminated after an 18 hour long Crisis

Pakistan army: Commando raid frees 22 hostages
By MOHAMMAD YUSUF (AP) – October 10, 2009

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — Pakistani commandos raided a building inside army headquarters early Sunday and freed 22 people held hostage for more than 18 hours by Islamist militants, a military spokesman said. Three captives and four militants were killed in the operation.

Explosions and gunshots rang out as commandos moved into a building in the complex just before dawn, while a helicopter hovered in the sky. Three ambulances were seen driving out of the heavily fortified base close to the capital, Islamabad.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said "mopping up" operations were still under way, but it appeared the crisis was nearing its end.

Up to five heavily armed militants took the hostages after they and other assailants attacked the main gate of the army headquarters on Saturday, killing six soldiers in a brazen attack on one of the most powerful institutions in this nuclear-armed country.

No group claimed responsibility, but authorities said they were sure that the Pakistani Taliban or an allied Islamist militant group were behind it.

The strike appeared to be a warning to the military that its planned offensive on the insurgents' stronghold of South Waziristan along the Afghan border would be met with attacks against targets across Pakistan. Authorities said the siege had stiffened their resolve to go ahead with that operation.

"Most of the hostages are out of the building now," Abbas said.

Abbas said 20 of the hostages had been kept in a single room guarded by a militant wearing a suicide vest. He said troops shot him before he managed to detonate his explosives.

Abbas said the 22 who were freed included soldiers and civilians. Three captives were killed, along with four militants, he said.

Pakistan has been hit by scores of attacks by militants over the last three years, with security forces a favorite target.

Related:
Pakistan Army Moves to Free Hostages at Its Headquarters - New York Times
The News predicted attack - The News
Hostage crisis at Pakistani base - The National
Pakistan Says 22 Hostages Freed, 3 Killed in Rescue Operation - Bloomberg
Operation in Waziristan inevitable after GHQ attack, says Malik - Online

1 comment:

Mera Watan said...

May God Bless Pakistan.