Rawalpindi, Oct 11 (IANS) There is a threat to the lives of "known personalities" in Pakistan, warned Interior Minister Rehman Malik Sunday after the army ended a hostage drama at the army headquarters here.

"There is a threat to the lives of the country's known personalities," Malik told Geo TV, adding that 56 terror suspects had been arrested from Islamabad and surrounding areas.

Malik said Pakistan was being destablilised and claimed that terrorists were receiving arms from Afghanistan.

He said the attack on the army headquarters Saturday was aimed at seeking publicity. Eleven people were killed Saturday.

Nine more people were killed Sunday in the hostage rescue operation at the military headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Major General Athar Abbas said three hostages, two military commandos and four of the attackers died in the operation that freed several hostages after a 22-hour standoff inside the army base, DPA reported.

The three captives included two civilian employees of the base and a soldier. Three were injured in the rescue attempt.