Three troops martyred as 'Indian proxy' attack on Rangers camp 'decisively foiled': ISPR

• Jamaatul Ahrar terrorists launched VB-IED attack on Gulistan-i-Jauhar Rangers camp, military’s media wing

• Says three attackers killed, one Afghan terrorist captured alive as security forces repel assault

• Field Marshal Asim Munir vows sacrifices will strengthen Pakistan's resolve against terrorism

• Funeral prayers offered as security forces launch sanitisation, vow retribution against perpetrators

 KARACHI/RAWALPINDI: Three Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) personnel embraced martyrdom while thwarting a terrorist assault on a Rangers camp in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday, adding that the attack by terrorists belonging to the "Indian proxy, Jamaatul Ahrar" was decisively foiled.

According to the military's media wing, the attackers targeted the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp in Gulistan-i-Jauhar after detonating an explosive at the main gate before attempting to breach the facility's perimeter.

"The assailants, after a blast at the main gate of the Camp, attempted to breach the perimeter security. However, their nefarious designs were "decisively foiled" by the vigilant and resolute response of Rangers troops, eliminating three kharijis and capturing one khariji, who is an Afghan national, in injured condition," the ISPR said.

🚨#ISPR
Rawalpindi, 28 June 2026;

On 27 June 2026, a cowardly terrorist attack was carried out on a #Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp in Karachi by Khwarij belonging to #India proxy, Jamaat ul Ahrar.

The assailants, after a blast at main gate of the Camp, attempted to breach the… pic.twitter.com/UYVvgP6IvX

— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) June 28, 2026

The government designates the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in the country as "kharijis" (outcasts).

The ISPR said three "brave sons of the soil" embraced martyrdom during the exchange of fire while four other soldiers sustained injuries.

The military further asserted that Pakistan "shall undertake retribution operations against the perpetrators of this attack to avenge the martyrdom of its soldiers."

Sanitisation operations were continuing to eliminate any remaining "Indian-sponsored" terrorists in the area, it added.

The ISPR reaffirmed that the security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue the relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-i-Istehkam to eradicate the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers.

"These sacrifices further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs," the statement said.

 Explosion, gunfire rock Gulistan-i-Jauhar

Residents of Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar reported hearing a powerful explosion followed by intense gunfire at around 8pm on Saturday.

Specialised security units, law enforcement personnel and rescue teams rushed to the scene, while police and paramilitary forces cordoned off the area.

Initial reports indicated that the attackers rammed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VB-IED) into the main gate of the Rangers headquarters in Block 5 of Gulistan-i-Jauhar, triggering a massive explosion before storming the compound and opening indiscriminate fire.

Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho confirmed that a fierce gun battle erupted after the explosive-laden vehicle breached the gate.

The blast and heavy exchange of fire forced residents and passers-by to seek cover as law enforcement agencies and rescue officials responded swiftly. Several major roads from Mosamiyat to the Rangers camp remained closed while the security operation continued late into the night.

Following the attack, the police chief said the area had been sealed off by a heavy deployment of police and Rangers commandos, with a mopping-up operation launched to clear the site.

President, PM condemn attack

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack, according to the state-run APP.

The president paid tribute to the three Rangers personnel who embraced martyrdom and prayed for the elevation of their ranks, the President's Secretariat Media Wing said in a statement.

He said the nation would never forget the sacrifices of its brave soldiers in the fight against terrorism.

President Zardari asserted that the nefarious designs of "externally backed terrorist elements" would never succeed and reaffirmed that the people of Pakistan stood shoulder to shoulder with the country's security forces and law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism.

He also expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured personnel.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for successfully foiling what he described as a "cowardly" attack by "Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists."

The Pakistani government uses the term "Fitna al-Hindustan" for groups it accuses of being sponsored by India to carry out terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil.

The prime minister said the Rangers once again demonstrated exceptional professionalism, courage and devotion to duty by frustrating the terrorists' nefarious designs.

He praised the security forces for killing three terrorists and capturing another alive during the operation, saying they had crushed the evil intentions of Fitna al-Hindustan, according to the Prime Minister's Office Media Wing.

Prime Minister Shehbaz paid tribute to the martyred personnel, saying the entire nation saluted their sacrifices.

He also expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, prayed for their strength and patience, wished the injured a speedy recovery, and reaffirmed that the blood of the martyrs would never go in vain.

The prime minister vowed to eliminate every manifestation of terrorism with full force, asserting that Fitna al-Hindustan and its patrons would never succeed in achieving their malicious objectives.

He reiterated that Pakistan's fight against terrorism would continue with unwavering resolve until the menace was completely eradicated.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and paid tribute to the martyred personnel.

He said the brave Rangers personnel thwarted the terrorists' designs through timely action.

"The personnel who embraced martyrdom while foiling the attack are heroes of the entire nation," he said.

Sindh CM takes notice

Soon after reports of firing near Mosamiyat Chowrangi emerged, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took immediate notice of the incident and sought a detailed report.

According to his spokesperson, the chief minister contacted the Sindh IG and Karachi Additional Inspector General, directing them to ensure an immediate police response and ascertain the nature of the incident.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar also sought a comprehensive report from the Karachi AIG and directed that complete details be submitted without delay.

Funeral prayers offered

Funeral prayers for the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) personnel martyred while foiling the terrorist attack were offered in Karachi on Sunday.

The Rangers personnel embraced martyrdom while thwarting the assault by the banned TTP splinter group Jamaatul Ahrar, described by officials as an Indian proxy.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the Director General Rangers, families of the martyrs and senior civil and military officials attended the funeral prayers.

Participants paid glowing tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs and expressed solidarity with their bereaved families.

Interior Minister Naqvi termed the attack a tragic incident and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.

"Security forces will hunt down terrorist elements wherever they are and bring them to justice," he said.

Governor Hashmi strongly condemned terrorism, declaring that the country would continue its struggle to eliminate terrorism in all its forms.

"We will not tolerate Indian-sponsored terrorism and will eliminate it root and branch," he said.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the Rangers personnel embraced martyrdom while defeating the terrorists' nefarious designs.

"We salute them. We stand with the security forces for the complete elimination of terrorism," he said.

Following the funeral prayers, the bodies of the martyrs were dispatched to their native towns for burial with full military honours.

Later, Interior Minister Naqvi and Governor Hashmi visited the site of the attack, where officials reaffirmed the resolve of the security forces to eradicate terrorism completely.

PAST ATTACKS IN PORT CITY

The last major terrorist attack in Karachi took place near the city's airport on October 6, 2024, when a bombing killed one person and injured 11 others, including foreign nationals.

The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, after which police registered an FIR against the group's leadership and others three days later.

In November 2024, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar confirmed the arrest of two suspects involved in the Karachi airport attack targeting Chinese officials.

Earlier, in February 2023, terrorists attacked the Karachi Police Office on Shahrah-e-Faisal, triggering an hours-long gun battle involving the Pakistan Army's Special Service Group (SSG), Sindh Rangers and Sindh Police. The operation left four people martyred and 19 others injured, while all three terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed.

The latest attack comes as Pakistan's security situation deteriorated sharply in May after two consecutive months of improvement, according to the monthly security assessment released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

The report said the country witnessed 128 terrorist attacks during May, compared with 101 in April, representing a 27 per cent increase. The surge reversed the downward trend recorded during the previous two months and underscored the persistent security challenges facing conflict-affected regions across the country.