TTP group claims responsibility for Rawalpindi GHQ attack

Islamabad, Oct.10 (ANI): The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's Ajmad Farooqi group has claimed responsibility for the ghastly terror attack on the Army General Headquarters (GHQ) at Rawalpindi.

The TTP group called a private television news channel to claim the responsibility for the attack in which four attackers were killed while two others were nabbed by the security forces.

The TTP's aforementioned branch demanded that the military operation in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) should be called off immediately.

It also asked the private US security agency, Blackwater and all the western non-government organizations (NGO) to leave Pakistan as soon as possible, The News reports.

Earlier, Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas confirmed that the situation outside GHQ was under control as all four terrorists who carried out the gun battle at the check post, were killed.

Two militants were arrested during an hour-long encounter in which six security personnel were also killed.

Major General Abbas said a massive search operation cum air surveillance was continuing in areas adjacent to the headquarters to ascertain whether there were any more terrorists or not.

The extremists, who arrived in a white car, opened fire near the GHQ and lobbed five hand grenades in their bid to break the barrier and force their way into the headquarters.

Security forces retaliated the gunfire and killed four terrorists, who according to eyewitnesses were dressed in army uniforms.

Television footage showed helicopters keeping a close watch on the militants movements while the ground operation was on. (ANI)