Terrorist involved in Rangers camp attack in Karachi reveals he was trained in Afghanistan

One of the attackers involved in the assault on the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) camp in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar has disclosed details of the operation after being arrested alive, according to security sources.

The suspect, identified as Usman Ali, admitted that he entered Pakistan from Afghanistan's Jalalabad and had received militant training there. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the attack, carried out on Saturday night, left three Rangers personnel martyred. Three terrorists were killed during the retaliatory operation, while one was captured.

During interrogation, Usman Ali identified the three slain attackers as Abdul Hadi, Janaan, and Umar Farooq. He said they belonged to the banned Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA), naming Ahrar Moulvi as the group's commander in Afghanistan.

According to the suspect, the group received training in Afghanistan, while explosives were assembled by the attackers themselves after they were provided with explosive jackets by a trainer identified as Umar Qari.

Ali revealed that the group stayed in an under-construction building in Karachi for seven days before launching the attack. He said Abdul Hadi, a resident of Bajaur, had made all logistical arrangements in advance and procured the weapons from Waziristan.

The suspect also admitted that Janaan threw the explosive device at the Rangers camp and claimed the attackers initially did not know the difference between the Pakistan Army and Rangers until arriving in Karachi.

The attack triggered a powerful explosion and heavy gunfire, forcing residents of Gulistan-i-Jauhar to seek shelter as security forces launched a large-scale operation. Roads leading to the Rangers camp were sealed, and emergency responders rushed to the scene.

ISPR said the assault was orchestrated by Jamaatul Ahrar, describing the group as an Indian proxy. JuA was formed in 2014 after splitting from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) before reuniting with the TTP in 2024.

According to the United Nations Security Council, Jamaatul Ahrar operates from Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, with many of its members originating from Mohmand. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to dismantle militant sanctuaries used for attacks inside Pakistan, but officials say those concerns have not been addressed.

Earlier this month, Pakistan carried out cross-border strikes on terrorist hideouts following a series of deadly attacks targeting security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.