Date: June 28, 2026 l Reporter: James Twins
KARACHI, Pakistan — Three members of Pakistan's paramilitary Sindh Rangers were killed and four others injured after militants launched a coordinated bomb and gun attack on the force's headquarters in the southern city of Karachi, Pakistan's military said on Saturday.
According to the military, the attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the entrance of the Sindh Rangers facility in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar neighborhood before opening fire on security personnel, triggering a fierce gun battle that lasted several minutes.
The military identified the attackers as members of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction linked to the Pakistani Taliban. Security forces responded swiftly, killing three of the militants during the exchange of fire and capturing a fourth suspect, who officials identified as an Afghan national.
Witnesses in the area reported hearing a powerful explosion followed by sustained gunfire, prompting panic among nearby residents. Security forces quickly cordoned off the neighborhood while emergency responders transported the wounded to nearby hospitals.
Pakistan's military condemned the assault, describing it as a terrorist attack targeting the country's security forces. It vowed to pursue those responsible and reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating militant groups operating within the country.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, paying tribute to the fallen Rangers personnel and expressing solidarity with their families. Both leaders praised the security forces for preventing the militants from causing greater destruction.
The attack is among the most significant militant incidents to strike Karachi in recent years and comes amid a broader resurgence of extremist violence across Pakistan. Authorities have repeatedly warned of increasing attacks targeting military and law enforcement personnel, particularly by factions associated with the Pakistani Taliban.
Pakistan has also accused militant groups of operating from neighboring Afghanistan, an allegation the Afghan Taliban government has consistently denied. The latest assault is expected to heighten tensions between the two countries as Islamabad continues its counterterrorism operations.
Investigations into the attack remain ongoing as security agencies continue to search for any additional suspects or accomplices.