GHALANAI: Two soldiers and four suspected militants were killed in a gun battle which occurred when the latter tried to enter the Mohmand Rifles headquarters where hundreds of recruits were scheduled to take part in a passing-out parade a few hours later on Saturday. Over 20 other soldiers suffered injuries.

Jamaatul Ahrar, a splinter group of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to sources, the four militants wearing uniforms of the paramilitary force were trying to enter the Mohmand Rifles headquarters at around 6am. When they were stopped by personnel posted at the main gate of the headquarters, two of them blew themselves up. The other two opened fire and an exchange of fire with the security men continued for about an hour and ended with the killing of the two militants. They said the attackers wanted to reach a mosque in the headquarters where at least 400 recruits were offering morning prayers at that time.

An eyewitness told Dawn that he heard gunshots at around 6.20am which were followed by an explosion.

Officials said that after the attack Corps Comman­der Lt Gen Hidayatur Rehman visited the Mohmand Rifles headquarters. He also visited the injured soldiers in the CMH, Peshawar.

They identified the martyred soldiers as Umar Hayat and Asif Jan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement that Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif appreciated the personnel for foiling a big terrorist attack on their headquarters.

Jamaatul Ahrar said in a statement that the attack was in response to what it called torture on members of the group and their relatives who were kept in custody in this ‘notorious headquarters’.

The statement claimed that three people having links with the group had been killed in a ‘fake encounter’ three days ago.

Later, the passing-out par­ade was held in the Mohmand Rifles headquarters which was attended by Northern Sector Commander Brig Mohammad Amir Kiyani and Commandant Mohmand Rifles Col Asif Iqbal.

At least 480 recruits completed the six-month training.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2016