Pakistan's military announced Sunday that three members of its paramilitary Rangers force were killed and four others wounded during an overnight clash following a militant attack on a regional headquarters in Karachi. The assault occurred Saturday night when a militant rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the provincial headquarters of the Pakistan Rangers in the southern port city.
The exchange of gunfire that ensued lasted for some time, according to police and witnesses. The military stated that security forces killed three attackers and apprehended a fourth, who was wounded and identified as an Afghan national.
Operations were ongoing in the area, the military said, vowing retaliation against those responsible for the assault. Pakistan has previously conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan, asserting they targeted militants responsible for attacks within Pakistan, a claim Kabul has consistently denied.
The militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, identified as a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack shortly after it occurred. The military described the group as an Indian proxy but offered no supporting evidence.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the fallen Rangers personnel, offering condolences to their families and wishing a swift recovery to the wounded. He emphasized the sacrifices of Pakistan's security forces in combating militancy and reaffirmed the nation's commitment to eliminating terrorism. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack and commended the security forces for repelling the assault.
Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant attacks targeting police and security forces in recent years. The military indicated that efforts were continuing to apprehend any remaining accomplices of the attackers.