All students, teachers rescued as Cadet College Wana operation enters final phase

WANA:  The operation to clear Cadet College Wana on Tuesday entered its final phase as security forces safely evacuated all students and staff from the building, which came under attack by a group of terrorists.

The operation will now be carried out comprehensively to its logical conclusion.

The cautious approach was necessary due to the presence of Afghan Khawarij inside the college and the paramount need to ensure the safety of the cadets’ lives, sources added.

Speaking to journalists earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that at least three people were martyred during the ongoing operation.

“Terrorists tried to take people hostage inside the cadet college but did not succeed,” he said, adding that attackers were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan.

A day earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that Indian-backed terrorists attacked Cadet College Wana, with security forces eliminating two attackers and trapping three inside.

Meanwhile, security forces in a statement earlier on Tuesday said that an operation was underway against terrorists, belonging to an Indian proxy, Fitna al-Khwarij, who took shelter inside Wana Cadet College.

They said that the terrorists had targeted the college with a vehicle-borne explosive device, which struck the main gate and damaged nearby buildings. Two militants were killed during an immediate response by the security forces.

Aimed at instilling fear amongst the young generation of erstwhile tribal areas who are acquiring quality education at their doorstep to excel in life and achieve a better future for not only themselves and their families but also for their communities.

“This blatant act of barbarism orchestrated by Khwarij from Afghanistan is in contrast to assertions made by the Afghan Taliban regime claiming non-presence of these terrorist groups on their soil. Pakistan reserves the right to respond against terrorists and their leadership present in Afghanistan,” the military said.

The attack comes days after peace talks between the Afghan Taliban regime and Pakistan broke down, although a ceasefire continues between the two neighbours. Staff Report