Pakistani officials say six soldiers and at least four armed men have been killed after an attack on the army headquarters in Rawalpindi near Islamabad, the country's capital.

The assailants, wielding assault rifles and grenades, staged the attack in the garrison city on Saturday, sparking a 45-minute gun battle.

"The situation is under control ... " Major-General Athar Abbas, the army spokesman, told Geo TV, a Pakistani channel.
 
Colonel Attique ur Rehman, the army's deputy spokesman, told the AFP news agency by telephone: "Six soldiers were martyred in the attack."

Random firing

The army said four of the attackers had been killed. Two others escaped but one of them was later arrested.

Mohammed Jamil, a police official, said the attackers drove up to the army compound in a white van shortly before noon, and tried to force their way inside before being challenged by soldiers.

The attackers jumped out of the vehicle, took up positions throughout the area and began firing at the troops, he said.

One attacker hurled a grenade, and others fired sporadically at those manning the checkpoint at the compound's entrance, a senior military official inside said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Taliban claim

Tehreek-e-Taliban, or the Pakistani Taliban, has claimed responsibility for the latest attack on the military's headquarters, according to Islamabad's local media.

In a telephone call made to a local media channel, a member of the Pakistani Taliban threatened aid groups operating in the country and asked that they leave Pakistan.

The attack came a day after a suspected suicide car bomber killed 49 people in the northwestern city of Peshawar in an attack the government said underscored the need for an all-out offensive.

Pakistan has been fighting an ever-intensifying campaign against al-Qaeda-linked Taliban and groups linked to al-Qaeda.

Recommend this article...

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto:

Be first to comment this article

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
E-mail
Homepage
Title:
BBCode:
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4