• published: 20 Oct 2009
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Pakistani soldiers killed four gunmen who attacked the tightly guarded army headquarters in the city of Rawalpindi on Saturday (October 10), military officials said. A team of gunmen brandishing assault rifles and grenades tried to break into Pakistan's army headquarters, sparking a raging gunbattle with troops outside the capital of Islamabad. Pakistans Tehrik-e-Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. The exact number of terrorists who were involved in the offensive, their locations and movements was unclear as media persons were prevented from approaching the area around army HQ due to security reasons. However police and troops were seen cordoning off the area while helicopter gunships flew overhead trying to aerially assess the scenario. A Pakistani army spokesperson initially said there were only four terrorists involved who were killed by this afternoon; however latest reports of intermittent firing suggest that some terrorists could still be at large and engaging the security forces, even succeeding in taking some hostages. Geo television quoted the DG, ISPR (Inter Services Public Relations) Major-General Athar Abbas as saying all four terrorists had been killed in the gunbattle and that the situation was under control. 'I can't give you the exact casualties inflicted on our guards, but four of them at the first check post were martyred, the spokesperson added. Pakistan media reported that soldiers guarding Pakistan's army headquarters opened fire thus morning at suspected suicide bombers inside a white vehicle. Security officials fired at a white Suzuki vehicle suspected to be carrying explosives and they are after it,' a security official said. The gunmen, who were reportedly wearing military uniform, drove up to the army headquarters compound in the garrison city of Rawalpindi shortly before noon and tried to force their way inside before being stopped by soldiers, Mohammed Jamil, a police official, said. The heavily armed attackers jumped out of van, took up positions throughout the area and began firing at the troops, he said. One gunman hurled a grenade, and others fired sporadically from their hiding places at those manning the checkpoint at the compound's entrance, said a senior military official inside. The firing took place at Gate 1 of the headquarters, which is reportedly close to Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayanis residence. Media persons reported that the army had asked the press to enforce restriction on reportage of the incident, requesting the cameramen of various television channels to stop capturing images of the attack location. Soldiers sealed off all roads leading to the headquarters and a helicopter was hovering over the area. Police and troops backed by helicopter gunships cordoned off the area, surrounding the estimated six attackers to prevent them from escaping, police said. The tightly guarded army headquarters is in the city of Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad. Rawalpindi is filled with security checkpoints and police roadblocks, and it was not immediately clear how a vehicle filled with gunman managed to evade detection. According to some Pakistani media, Pakistan Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud is likely to claim responsibility for the audacious attack. Tehriki-e-Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who US and Pakistani officials said might be dead, resurfaced on Oct 6 to meet journalists and vowed to avenge his predecessor Baitullah Mehsuds killing by continuing to attack the US and Pakistani targets. "We will take revenge for Baitullah Mehsud's killing and the continued drone strikes...both America and Pakistan will have to face the consequences," Hakimullah had said earlier. The attack came as the army prepares for a major offensive against Pakistani Taliban militants in their northwestern stronghold on the Afghan border. It also came a day after a suspected suicide car-bomber killed 50 people in the city of Peshawar in an attack the government said underscored the need for the all-out offensive. Pakistani Federal Inteior Minister Rehman Malik had linked Friday's Peshawar suicide blast to the South Waziristan agency, which has been the stronghold of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. Todays audacious assault was the third major militant attack in Pakistan a week and came as the government said it was planning an imminent offensive against Islamist militants in their strongholds in the rugged mountains along the border with Afghanistan. It showed that the militants retain the ability to strike at the very heart of Pakistan's security apparatus despite recent military operations against their forces and the killing of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in a CIA drone attack in August. Pakistan has been fighting an ever-intensifying campaign against Islamist militants including the Taliban and groups linked to al-Qaeda. "Terrorists attack Pakistan Army HQ(10 Oct 2009)" From IslamicPeaceTV