Three Rangers personnel killed in militant attack on Karachi paramilitary camp

Three members of Pakistan's paramilitary Rangers were killed and four others wounded after militants attacked a Rangers camp in Karachi on Saturday evening, the military said Sunday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) blamed Jamaat-ul-Ahrar for the assault and described the group as an "Indian proxy." Three attackers were also killed, and a fourth was captured.

Who carried out the Karachi Rangers camp attack?

Pakistan's military attributed the attack to Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a militant group with ties to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, alleging the assailants were "Indian-sponsored."

Security forces killed three of the attackers and captured a fourth, wounded suspect identified as an Afghan national.

How did the attack on the Karachi Rangers camp unfold?

According to the ISPR, the attackers detonated an explosive at the main gate of the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp in the Gulistan-e-Jauhar area before attempting to breach the perimeter. Rangers troops repelled the assault, preventing the militants from entering the facility.

AFP journalists in Karachi reported hearing heavy gunfire Saturday night, with security personnel sealing roads around the Mosamiat Chowrangi area and paramilitary forces moving through streets in pickup trucks.

The military said three Rangers personnel were killed during the exchange of fire, while four others were injured. Pakistan officially refers to perpetrators of terrorist attacks as "kharijis," a term used in the ISPR statement to describe the attackers. Sanitization operations were continuing in the area to eliminate any remaining militants.

What was Pakistan's response to the Karachi attack?

The ISPR said Pakistan would carry out retribution operations against those responsible and vowed to continue its counterterrorism campaign under the national vision "Azm-i-Istehkam" at full pace to eliminate what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism.

Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir expressed condolences to the families of the slain Rangers personnel. "These sacrifices further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs," the statement said.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said he had ordered a detailed report into the attack. President Asif Ali Zardari posted on X expressing condolences to the families of those killed and prayed for the swift recovery of the wounded.

What is Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and its links to Pakistan attacks?

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is a militant group often associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has claimed or been linked to a surge in attacks across Pakistan in recent years.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of providing safe haven to militant groups since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021. Afghanistan's government has consistently denied those allegations.

— With additional input from AFP.