Pakistan: Six terrorists killed, four rangers dead in Karachi compound attack

Pakistani security forces successfully repelled a militant assault on a Sindh Rangers compound in Karachi late Saturday night, neutralizing six terrorists and apprehending another. The coordinated attack, however, claimed the lives of four rangers personnel, marking the city's most significant terrorist incident since October 2024.

According to security sources, the attackers were identified as members of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The assault commenced around 8:30 PM when the militants used a vehicle to breach the main gate of the Sindh Rangers' Bhittai Wing headquarters in the Gulistan-e-Jauhar area. Upon entering the compound, they deployed hand grenades, triggering explosions before engaging in a fierce gun battle with the security personnel.

“

More details are being collected, but initial investigations confirm the terrorists arrived in a vehicle and entered the compound by ramming the main gate. The Rangers personnel responded rapidly.

The ensuing operation, supported by the Special Security Unit (SSU) and the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF), lasted nearly 90 minutes. By its conclusion, six militants were dead, and one injured attacker was captured. Four Rangers personnel lost their lives defending the compound. Authorities swiftly cordoned off the area, closed nearby roads, and advised residents to remain indoors due to the heavy gunfire and temporary power outages in adjacent neighborhoods.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which primarily operates in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has a history of targeting civilians, security forces, and government officials. This attack follows a pattern of violence, with the last major TTP incident in Karachi being the February 2023 storming of the Karachi Police Office. The Sindh Inspector General of Police, Javed Alam Odho, confirmed the initial details, stating that the terrorists rammed the gate and were met with a rapid response from the Rangers. An explosion was heard at the outset, though its cause is still under investigation. The Sindh chief minister has ordered a detailed report on the incident.

“

What is confirmed is that as soon as the attack took place, the Rangers personnel immediately took positions and engaged the attackers in a gun battle.