Pakistan army HQ siege over; 42 hostages freed

In a dramatic rescue mission, Pakistani commandos today stormed a building near the army headquarters in Rawalpindi to end a 20-hour siege freeing 42 hostages held by Taliban terrorists, who staged a brazen assault on the top military facility, and killed 4 militants.

Three hostages were also killed in firing by terrorists while two commandos of the elite Special Service group died during the rescue mission, chief military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said. Five security personnel were also injured.
    
A fifth terrorist, identified as Aqeel alias Dr Usman and believed to be the mastermind behind the attack that began yesterday, was captured in an injured condition, said.

Aqeel is also believed to be behind the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on March 3 and failed attempts on former president Pervez Musharraf's life.
    
Four terrorists and six soldiers, including a brigadier from Military Intelligence and a lieutenant colonel, were killed during yesterday's fierce gun battle.

In all, at least 19 people were killed during the attack -- 6 soldiers, 2 commandos, 8 terrorists and 3 hostages.
    
At least two of the terrorists killed this morning were wearing suicide jackets and intended to blow themselves up in the event of an assault by the military, Abbas said. One of them had positioned himself in a room where 22 hostages were being held. In all, 42 hostages, including security personnel and civilian employees of the military, were freed.