Pakistan army frees hostages at anti-terrorism center

Pakistani soldiers stand guard on a road leading to the cantonment area in Bannu, Pakistan Dec 20, 2022. (ZAHID MUHAMMAD / REUTERS)

PESHAWAR — Pakistani security forces on Wednesday killed all militants who had taken over a counter-terrorism centre two days after they had held security officers and detainees hostages at the northwestern facility, defence minister said.

Khawaja Asif told parliament that all the hostages had been rescued by the Pakistani army, who also lost two elite services commandos in the operation.

Security forces had earlier launched the operation to free the hostages from the Pakistani Taliban

Security forces had earlier launched the operation to free the hostages from the Pakistani Taliban who snatched interrogators' weapons and took them captive on Sunday.

READ MORE: Militants seize counter-terrorism center in Pakistan

Six security officials and several detainees had been inside the centre, multiple sources told Reuters. They declined to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Several army soldiers were also wounded in the operation, Asif said.

Security forces had surrounded the military district in which the centre is located, where about 20 fighters from the Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were holed up.

READ MORE: China, Afghanistan, Pakistan vow to safeguard peace, stability

Pakistani authorities on Monday opened talks to try to resolve the stand-off.