Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that the compound of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Bannu city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was cleared after three days and all 33 terrorists who overpowered the security guards were killed in an operation. done
In his briefing to the National Assembly, the Federal Minister said that 10 to 15 soldiers were injured and two were martyred after the Special Service Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army launched an operation earlier today.
“By 2:30 pm, the SSG had evacuated the compound. All the hostages have been released,” Asif said. He also stated that the militants were not part of a single group but belonged to various banned organisations.
The defense minister added that there were 33 arrested terrorists inside the compound and one of them overpowered a man posted at the centre. Asif said that he then took away his weapon and later the terrorists took over the center.
Terrorists affiliated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) were involved in the incident and in an attempt to end the standoff, the Pakistani government initiated talks with the militant group’s leadership.
Earlier, sources told JEE News that the terrorists were demanding a safe air route to Afghanistan.
“The sad aspect of this incident is that terrorism is taking hold again, especially in KP and Balochistan. Incidents have also happened in other provinces, but in these two provinces we have found clear evidence.”
The defense minister also said that the militants were not part of a single group but belonged to various banned outfits.
The defense minister noted that the provincial government – which oversees the CTD – has “totally failed” to fulfill its responsibility.
“The entire provincial government was held hostage by Imran Khan in Zaman Park. On the other hand, innocent people were held hostage [by terrorists] in KP,” he said.
Asif added that even when floods hit KP, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government – which has been in power for the past nine years – has repeatedly failed to live up to expectations.
“But this, this is a complete failure. Ultimately our security forces had to get involved and sacrifice their lives […] the provincial government had no role in this. This is not a six but a nine year failure. months or a year,” he said.
Asif said that Imran even uses the helicopter of the provincial government. “He is planning to come to power again and destroy what is left,” the minister said.
The defense minister further criticized the KP government and said it was on “total collapse”.
Deteriorating law and order
The law and order situation in KP has gone south over the past few weeks as threats and attacks on security forces as well as high-profile political figures have increased.
According to a reports, police are on high alert across the province following a recent surge in attacks in areas including Peshawar, southern districts and Mardan area.
The publication quoted a source as saying: “Apart from the police, senior politicians have complained of receiving threats. Some of their homes have also come under grenade attack.
Awami National Party (ANP) provincial spokesperson Samar Bilor has also said that their provincial president Amil Wali Khan had received a call about the plan to attack his life.
Samar said that the protection of their leadership was the responsibility of the state, adding that if the state did not act, they would have no other option but to take the protection of their leaders into their own hands.
Samar had said last week that “apart from Amil Wali Khan, Sardar Hussain Babak and others have also received threats while MPA Faisal Zeb’s house was attacked twice in the last few weeks”.
Apart from the attack on ANP MPA Faisal Zeb’s house in Shangla, in recent months a hand grenade was hurled at party senator Hidayatullah’s house in Peshawar.
The report said that there has been an increase in the wave of terrorist attacks across the province in the last few months. According to official data, at least 118 terror incidents were reported in KP from mid-August to the last week of November.
At least 26 police personnel, 12 personnel from other law enforcement agencies and 17 civilians were killed in terror incidents across KP. Moreover, 18 police personnel, 10 civilians and 37 law enforcement officials were injured in these attacks.
A dozen districts including Peshawar, Mardan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Kohat, Bannu and Nowshera came under attack in November.
US offered help against TTP threats.
Amid rising incidents of terrorism in Pakistan, the United States has offered to help the country deal with threats posed by militant outfits.
During the press briefing, State Department spokesman Ned Price was asked to comment on terrorism and the hostage situation in Bannu.
“Well, first of all the ongoing situation in Pakistan, we are certainly aware. We are keeping a close eye on reports that militants have captured the counter-terrorism center in Bannu,” he said.
“We offer our deepest sympathies to those injured,” Price said, urging those responsible for the attack to end all acts of violence, the safe release of hostages, and counter-terrorism. End the occupation of the center of violence.
Islamabad is a partner when facing these common challenges, including the challenge of terrorist groups – terrorist groups inside Afghanistan, and terrorist groups on the Afghan-Pakistan border, the spokesman said.
“We have partnered with our Pakistani friends to help them meet this challenge. We stand ready to help, whether in this unfolding situation or more broadly. But This is a situation for which we will have to refer you to the Pakistani authorities.
