some commandos injured
Defense Minister Khwaja Asif said that this operation was carried out by the Special Service Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army. Out of this, 10 to 15 commandos have also been injured. Khwaja Asif said, ‘This operation was started on December 20 at 12.30 pm. The CTD compound was cleared by 2.30 pm.
Security forces on Tuesday launched an operation to flush out militants in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after talks broke down two days ago after some people were taken hostage at an anti-terrorist center. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had arrested some terrorists on Sunday and they were being interrogated at the police station. Then, on Sunday, one of these terrorists snatched an AK-47 rifle from the policeman and started firing.
the policemen were hostages
The terrorist freed the other terrorists held in the building and they took over the premises. They took several policemen hostage. Since Monday, Pakistani authorities were engaged in efforts to end the confrontation with the terrorists by holding talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Schools were closed here.
TTP terrorists had captured the police station. More than 30 terrorists attacked in Bannu Cantt and Lucky Marwat. Even the weapons were snatched from the jailers at the police station. The terrorists were asking for a safe way to reach Afghanistan. He had said that eight police officers and military intelligence officers would be released if they reached Afghanistan safely. This information was given by the spokesperson of the Khyber government.
Situation tense in Bannu
According to Dawn newspaper, footage aired on television on Tuesday showed plumes of smoke rising from the CTD premises. The situation in Bannu was quite tense on Tuesday. Police and security agencies have cordoned off the cantonment area where the center is located. Residents of the area have been asked to remain indoors. Mobile services were also stopped here. Muhammad Khurasani, a spokesman for the TTP, said the step was taken because of the inhuman treatment meted out to the prisoners at the CTD police station by the security officials. The TTP abrogated a ceasefire agreement with the federal government in June and ordered its operatives to carry out terrorist attacks across the country.