A heavily armed gunman launched a daring attack in the vicinity of Pakistan’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi, where his gunman fired on a Pakistani army base and one soldier was killed and two security forces were injured in a gun battle that went on for hours and killed one soldier and injured two other security forces. The attacker attempted to scale the high-security perimeter of the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) but was shot dead by security forces after a brief but intense clash.
The attack happened in the vicinity of the main entrance of the General Headquarters, one of Pakistan’s most heavily guarded military installations. At first sight, the attacker had reached the security checkpoint armed with advanced weapons and opened fire without warning on people at the entrance screening area of the General Headquarters, sources said.
Security officials said the attacker appeared intent to gain access to the inner security zone of the military complex, but the guards were quick to fire back at the gunman to prevent him from entering the building. The exchange of fire lasted for several minutes, and a Pakistani soldier was killed while performing his duties at the time.
The military source said the dead soldier was killed in the line of duty while helping to repel the assault. Two other security personnel suffered serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby military hospital for emergency treatment.
Following the gun battle, security forces neutralised the attacker before he could attack any sensitive regions of the headquarters. The entire area was secured, and then the gunman was searched for, and the entire area was searched to determine whether the gunman was acting alone or had an accomplice who had been involved.
The General Headquarters Rawalpindi is the command centre of the Pakistan Army and is one of the country’s most strategic military facilities. It houses senior military leadership and is key to defence operations. So it is under layers of security and surveillance.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, military and intelligence agencies began investigating the identity of the attacker, motives and possible affiliations. They are looking at weapons recovered from the scene and surveillance footage from nearby security cameras. No one has acknowledged responsibility for the attack.
Security experts say attacks against military installations are rare because of the extensive security measures around such facilities. But the latest incident only serves to heighten fears of armed extremists and lone wolf attackers attacking government and military structures.
Authorities have increased security measures around important military and government buildings across Rawalpindi and Islamabad as a precaution. New check posts have been put in place, and security personnel are on high alert while the investigation is ongoing.
Pakistan Army has paid tribute to the soldier who lost his life during the attack, saying, among others, our hero was a brave service member who gave the ultimate sacrifice to the country’s strategic assets and a warrior who sacrificed himself in a war and sacrificed all to defend a national asset and a national institution in the line of duty,” said the Pakistan Army in a statement.
The incident illustrates the security challenges that Pakistan faces today, and the risks that personnel who protect critical national infrastructure face daily as they operate the nation’s vital infrastructure.
