Zeenews Bureau
Rawalpindi: Heavily-armed gunmen on Saturday attacked Pakistan Army's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Saturday leading to a gunbattle resulting in the death of four terrorists and at least six soldiers.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Earlier, at around 11:45 am, four terrorists wearing uniforms in a white van opened fire with sophisticated weapons when soldiers at a check-post near the General Headquarters tried to stop it resulting in a shootout, which lasted for about an hour.
"All four terrorists who were trying to enter (the General Headquarters) have been killed," chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas had told reporters, adding the situation is fully under control now.
"There was some confusion as the attackers were wearing camouflage uniforms but they were all killed and the situation was brought under control," Abbas added. The shootout also resulted in the death of at least six soldiers, authorities said.
However, more than an hour after Abbas’ claim, gunshots were heard from the compound, and the spokesman confirmed that two more gunmen had eluded security forces and slipped into the headquarters compound.
The firing took place at Gate no 2, which is the main entrance of the Army General Headquarters. The security forces cordoned off the area in and around the headquarters and some top officers were reported to be trapped inside.
Though it is yet to be officially confirmed, military personnel present at the site said that gunmen also hurled grenades.
An eyewitness told Geo News channel that there were five or six persons in the car and that he had seen one of them falling after being hit by the firing by the soldiers.
Another witness told a news channel that the firing was taking place in front of the office of the Inter-Services Public Relations, located within the General Headquarters. All staff of the ISPR were asked to stay inside their office.
Incidentally, General Kayani’s residence and ISI are building are in the vicinity of the shootout site. It may be noted that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Taliban have repeatedly threatened attacks against the military installations.
First Published: Saturday, October 10, 2009, 18:11