**Pakistani security forces have carried out an operation to free hostages being held by militants in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad.**Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC the operation had been a success with most hostages freed but he could not give casualty figures.
Insurgents had attacked Pakistan’s military HQ on Saturday, taking 10 to 15 security personnel hostage.
Six soldiers and four militants were killed in the initial assault.
The militants’ attack came as the Pakistani army prepared for a major operation against the Taliban.
“Most of the hostages are out and the security forces are in control of the building,” said Gen Abbas.
There were reports of the sound of blasts and gunfire coming from inside the compound.
Gen Abbas said the assault was carried out by special forces who had met resistance and were searching the building to ensure no further militants were inside.
High profile
No-one has yet claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, but the Taliban has been threatening to carry out attacks unless operations against the militant group were stopped.
RECENT MILITANT ATTACKS
- 24 Sept - Seven pro-government tribal elders killed by militants in town of Janikhel, north-western Pakistan
- 26 Sept - At least 16 people killed in two suicide car bombs, in Peshawar and Bannu
- 5 Oct - Suicide bomber attacks UN offices in Islamabad killing five
- 9 Oct - At least 50 killed in suspected suicide bombing in Peshawar
In pictures: Pakistan shoot-out
Witnesses said that on Saturday gunmen drove up to the army compound in a white van just before midday local time (0600 GMT).
They took up positions, fired on the compound and threw hand grenades, security officials said.
Roads to the area were sealed off and helicopters hovered over the compound.
The military reported that the attack had been repelled after a gun battle lasting around 45 minutes but later admitted hostages had been taken.
The raid followed a series of bombings in north-western Pakistan. On Friday at least 50 died in a blast in Peshawar.
The BBC’s Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says that in recent days Taliban positions in the tribal areas have been bombed by the air force, amid speculation that the army’s offensive there is soon to be intensified.
There was a period of relative quiet in August after Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed, but the rate of militant attacks has increased since then, our correspondent adds.
Islamist militants have carried out a number of attacks against high-profile, high-security targets in recent years.
In March this year gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team in the city of Lahore. Six policemen and a driver were killed and several of the team were injured.
In the same month, dozens of people were killed when a police training centre on the outskirts of the city was occupied by gunmen