25 terrorists killed, four soldiers martyred in Bannu CTD office operation: ISPR

• Defence Minister says that SSG completed action 
• 25 terrorists killed and compound cleared
• Four soldiers embraced martyrdom while 10 others injured

Security agencies in a successful operation killed 25 terrorists, arrested three whereas seven terrorists surrendered, who were holding out a CTD Compound in Bannu city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Army Spokesperson Major General Ahmad Sharif said while talking to a private media broadcast on Tuesday.

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Gen Sharif further said that a clearance operation was conducted in the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).

He said that four soldiers embraced martyrdom while 10 others were injured in the gun battle.

During the holdout terrorists sought safe exit to Afghanistan via airway, he said.

Terrorists were present in the CTD office Bannu since Sunday. They were demanding the Pakistani authorities for safe airlift to Afghanistan.

It is pertinent to mention here that terrorists in an earlier attack on Bargi police station in the Lakki Marwat district late Saturday night. Six police officials were martyred and four got injured in the terrorist attack.

The terrorists used rocket launchers and hand grenades to target the police station in Lakki Marwat.

Earlier on Tuesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that the Special Services Group (SSG) had completed the operation against terrorists at Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Centre Bannu, recovering all hostages and killing all members of the outlaw organization.

Sharing details of the operation conducted by security forces against militants, who besieged the CTD center in Bannu, the minister informed the joint sitting of the parliament that all terrorists had been killed and the compound had been cleared at 2:30 pm on Tuesday.

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He said that the operation started at 12:30 pm on December 20 (today) and concluded at 2:30 pm. He added around 10 to 15 SSG jawans including one officer received injuries while two embraced Shahadat.

The situation emerged after an arrested militant overpowered staff, snatched a rifle and later held hostages inside the CTD centre in Bannu, he added.

Khawaja Asif said, “All the terrorists who had taken hostages at CTD centre in Bannu were killed during the operation of security forces.” He said that total 33 terrorists were inside the centre and all were killed in the operation carried out by the Pak Army’s SSG.

He said that it was a matter of concern that terrorist activities were increasing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and these 33 terrorists who were arrested was evidence of what was happening in KPK.

He said that the chief minister KPK and CTD department which is responsible for countering terrorism in the province were actually hostages of Imran Khan as his government did nothing during last nine years even in floods and other untoward situations.

The minister said that this incident is again an utter failure of Imran Khan’s government in KPK and added that again Pakistan Army played its role. He added there was no role of the provincial government of KPK in handling the situation, where Imran Khan openly uses resources of the provincial government including its helicopter.

He said that there was a total collapse of the KPK province in the presence of Imran Khan as the CM cannot do anything without his permission.

Later, the minister informed the National Assembly that Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) will share the complete information about the operation against terrorists.