Non-Subscriber Extract
Pakistani militants storm army headquarters
12 October 2009
In a pre-dawn raid on 11 October, Pakistani soldiers and commandoes rescued 39 hostages who were being held by militants within the Pakistani Army General Headquarters (GHQ) complex in Rawalpindi.
Local press reports claimed that the hostages were held captive for about 19 hours in the critically important military intelligence directorate building within the GHQ compound. Four militants and three hostages were killed in the rescue operation, which was concluded at about 0600 (0200 GMT).
The hostage situation arose after nine militants stormed the GHQ complex on 10 October at about 1130 (0730 GMT). Dressed in military fatigues and armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles, hand grenades and improvised explosive devices, the militants drove towards the main gate of the compound in a van that reportedly had a military number plate.