In a major development in Pakistan’s ongoing fight against terrorism, three militants, including the mastermind of the November 2024 attack on Chinese engineers, were killed during a joint counterterrorism operation in Karachi’s Manghopir area, authorities confirmed on Monday.
According to Additional Inspector-General Azad Khan of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), the prime suspect was identified as Zafran. He, along with two accomplices affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was neutralised during a raid jointly carried out by CTD and intelligence agencies.
The slain terrorists were allegedly involved in a November 5, 2024, incident in Karachi’s SITE area, where a private security guard opened fire at two Chinese engineers inside a textile mill. Both sustained injuries in what investigators suspected to be a premeditated assault. The guard fled the scene and was later named in an FIR filed two days after the attack.
Initially, police officials had reported that the shooting stemmed from a verbal dispute. However, deeper investigations revealed possible links to terrorist networks. CTD’s operation now confirms that the act was orchestrated, further highlighting a growing threat against foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens working on projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Pakistan has experienced a surge in militant activity since the TTP ended its ceasefire in late 2022. While law enforcement agencies and security forces remain primary targets, Chinese nationals have increasingly come under attack.
Data from the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) shows that between 2021 and 2024, at least 20 Chinese citizens were killed and 34 were injured in various terrorist incidents across Pakistan.
Key attacks include the March 2024 Besham suicide bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which killed five Chinese workers, and the October 2024 Karachi airport blast, claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), that left two Chinese dead and several others injured. The 2022 suicide bombing at the University of Karachi’s Confucius Institute, which killed three Chinese nationals, had further heightened Beijing’s security concerns.
These incidents have prompted strong responses from China. During an October 2024 event, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong called the targeted attacks “unacceptable” and urged Islamabad to ensure robust security for Chinese citizens and crack down on hostile elements.
While Pakistan’s Foreign Office had described the ambassador’s remarks as “perplexing” and contrary to traditional diplomacy, the recent operation reflects Islamabad’s efforts to address China’s growing concerns, particularly those related to the safety of CPEC-linked personnel and projects.
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