Taliban Gunmen Take Hostages at Pakistan’s Military HQ
October 10, 2009 by national
Filed under World Report
UPDATE: Pakistani security forces have launched an operation to free hostages being held by militants in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC the operation had been a success with most hostages freed but he could not give casualty figures.
Original Post
Fifteen people have been taken hostage in a brazen terrorist attack on Pakistan’s main army headquarters. Six soldiers are reported to have died in a shootout as suspected Taliban terrorists took over the facility.
Aleem Maqbool from BBC News in Islamabad points out in his analysis, the army’s main headquarters lies within one of the most heavily secured areas in the country. To attack it in the middle of the day, and then take hostages, shows a new level of audacity on the part of the militants.
Just a few weeks ago, the government here said it was winning its fight against the militants, and that the Taliban was in disarray. The events of this week will have many questioning those claims.
From the UK Telegraph
Gunmen wearing army uniforms killed the soldiers when they attacked Pakistan’s army headquarters. They shot their way through a first checkpoint before a firefight broke out at the second checkpoint.
Four of the attackers were killed and an army spokesman declared the attack over. But soon afterwards it emerged that two more who were holed up inside the heavily fortified complex were still fighting seven hours later, as helicopters with snipers on board prowled the skies of Rawalpindi hunting for attackers who may have escaped. It became clear several hours into the incident that the attackers had taken hostages, thought to include several soldiers. Senior officers including a brigadier and a lieutenant-colonel were among the dead.
via Source.
Debka is reporting the attack on the Military HQ could be part of a much larger strategy by the Taliban, one that culminates in the takeover of at least part of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. U.S. and Pakistan authorities have repeatedly stated the nuclear arsenal is safe and that contingency plans are in place should the Taliban make such an attempt.
From Debka: Taliban gunmen take hostages at Pakistan’s military HQ, push towards its nuclear arsenal
