Rawalpindi GHQ attackers demanded release of 100 terrorists

Islamabad, Oct. 13 (ANI): Pakistan's ISPR DG Major General Athar Abbas has revealed that the Taliban militants, who took 42 people hostage at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Saturday, were demanding the release of about 100 terrorists.

"Their target was to take senior officers of the GHQ hostage and make demands. The main demand was the release of terrorists including high-profile ones. It included over 100 names, from all the groups, all the terrorists across the board," the Daily Times quoted Abbas, as saying.

Earlier, the Pak-Taliban had claimed responsibility for the GHQ attack.

Abbas said the attackers were trained in South Waziristan.

"The main training area for this operation was in South Waziristan," he said, adding that intelligence agencies had intercepted Taliban leader Waliur Rehman's telephone conversations in this regard.

Replying to a question, Abbas said the attack has prompted the Pakistan Government and military to initiate an offensive in Waziristan at the earliest.

"They have taken a principled decision that there will be an operation in this area. It is now a matter of military judgement, what is the appropriate timing in the best national interests," he said. (ANI)