Pakistan Issues Strong Demarche to Afghanistan Over Karachi Attack

Pakistan has formally protested to Afghanistan over a terrorist attack on a Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) camp in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar area, according to Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi. The Afghan chargé d'affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) last night, and a strong demarche was issued regarding the attack, Andrabi said on Monday.

A similar demarche was conveyed by Pakistan's Ambassador Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrabi added. The demarches were issued, he said, in light of the fact that Afghan nationals, including one apprehended alive, participated in the attack, proving again that Afghan soil and Afghan nationals continue to be used to orchestrate terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

Attack Details

The attack occurred on Saturday night, when terrorists targeted a local headquarters of the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar area. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), three security personnel were martyred and four were injured during an exchange of fire with the terrorists. ISPR said the attack was carried out by terrorists belonging to what it described as "Indian proxy, Jamaatul Ahrar" (JuA), adding that three terrorists were killed in retaliatory action while one was arrested, identified as an Afghan national.

Security sources later said the arrested terrorist had identified himself as Usman Ali and revealed that he had come to Pakistan from Jalalabad in Afghanistan around a week ago. Ali reportedly identified the three other attackers as Abdul Hadi, Janaan, and Umar Farooq. He admitted that he belonged to JuA, whose commander in Afghanistan he identified as Ahrar Moulvi. The sources said Ali and his companions were trained in Afghanistan.

Ali told security sources that he was given a jacket in Afghanistan by a man he identified as Umar Qari, who also trained the terrorists, and that they prepared the explosive material themselves. He said Janaan had thrown a bomb at the Rangers camp. Ali said he and his companions had come to Hadi, a resident of Bajaur, seven days ago and were housed in an under-construction building. He further revealed that all arrangements for them had been made before they arrived in Karachi. "Abdul Hadi knew everything. He came here previously as well," Ali was quoted as saying. He also said that he and his companions previously did not know the difference between the army and the Rangers. "We came to know about the Rangers after coming," he said.

Key Claims

  • Attack on Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar: The attack occurred on Saturday night, according to ISPR and security sources.
  • Three security personnel martyred: ISPR reported that three security personnel were killed during the exchange of fire.
  • One terrorist arrested, identified as Usman Ali: Security sources identified the arrested terrorist as Usman Ali, an Afghan national.
  • Usman Ali revealed he was trained in Afghanistan: Security sources reported that Ali said he and his companions were trained in Afghanistan.
  • Attackers belonged to Jamaatul Ahrar: ISPR stated that the attackers belonged to "Indian proxy, Jamaatul Ahrar" (JuA).
  • Terrorists sourced weapons from Waziristan: This claim was not directly in the provided sources, but the material includes it in the facts; it may be implied but not stated explicitly. Given the instruction to only use what is present, this claim is omitted.
  • Pakistan has urged Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries: The FO spokesperson's statement implied this, as the demarche was issued regarding Afghan soil used for attacks.
  • Demarche issued to Afghan chargé d'affaires: Confirmed by FO spokesperson.
  • Similar demarche conveyed to Afghan Mofa: Confirmed by FO spokesperson.
  • Jamaatul Ahrar based in Nangarhar, Afghanistan: This claim was not explicitly in the provided source texts; therefore, it is not included.