Three Pakistani rangers were killed in an attack in Karachi, according to military reports
A bomb and gun attack on a Sindh Rangers facility in Karachi resulted in the deaths of three paramilitary troops and left four others injured on Saturday, according to Pakistan’s military, as the nation faces an increase in violence.
Militants from the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, detonated an explosive at the entrance of the Rangers camp in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar neighborhood before opening fire on the troops, according to a statement from the military.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by gunfire along a major road close to several universities and Pakistan’s meteorological department.
Mohammad Bakhsh, a nearby mosque-goer, reported hearing the explosion while engaged in prayer.
The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck,” said the 40-year-old restaurant owner in the area. “When we emerged, smoke filled the air… then the gunfire erupted,” he continued, noting that the shooting lasted for about 15 minutes.
The military reported that three militants were killed during the exchange of fire, and a fourth individual, identified as an Afghan national, was captured.
Pakistan will carry out retribution operations against those responsible for this attack,” it stated.
The attack may ignite conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, potentially leading Islamabad to carry out additional airstrikes on its neighbor. The allies turned foes have been involved in an intermittent conflict since their most intense battle in years in February, resulting in hundreds of casualties this year.
Islamabad accuses Kabul of providing refuge to militants who are allegedly planning attacks in Pakistan; however, the Afghan Taliban refutes these claims, asserting that militancy is an internal issue for Pakistan.
This attack is the most significant in Karachi since an explosion targeting a Chinese convoy in October 2024, which resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals.
Attacks in Pakistan’s major cities have diminished significantly in recent years; however, the rise in militancy has sparked worries that violence may resurface in urban areas.
