Security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have managed to free the hostages being held by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) inside the Counter-Terrorism Department’s (CTD) compound in Bannu.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that “all the terrorists” have been killed.
During the operation, an exchange of fire left several security men injured.
The defence minister said that a unit of the army’s Special Service Group (SSG) carried out the operation, in which 10-15 of its commandos were injured while two were martyred.
Earlier in the day, an operation had been launched to free the hostages held by the militants.
Hospitals in the vicinity have been put on high alert and mobile services have also been blocked in the area.
What happened in Bannu?
On Sunday, militants detained at a facility run by KP police’s CTD in on Sunday took over the department, held interrogators hostage and demanded safe evacuation to Afghanistan.
After taking over, the militants shot at security personnel inside the facility, injuring a policeman and a soldier. The outlawed TTP claimed responsibility for the incident.
According to news reports, the militants managed to break out of lockup and held security personnel hostage. After the incident, police and security forces rushed to the spot but failed to free the hostages.
Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Special Assistant to KP Chief Minister, said that talks between Pakistani officials and the leadership of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are underway in Afghanistan, however, there is no breakthrough as yet.
He also confirmed that a security official was killed in the Bannu compound by the militants and said that the government had engaged the militants to avoid casualties.
The area where CTD is located has been sealed and residents have been asked to stay indoors. Internet services have been suspended in the city.
Moreover, roads leading to and from Bannu Cantonment have been blocked.
