A city view of Karachi, Pakistan. Photo: VCG

Three terrorists, including the mastermind behind the November 2024 attack on Chinese engineers, were killed during a counterterrorism operation in Karachi city in Pakistan, said Pakistan officials as reported by the Dawn.

“A terrorist who masterminded an attack on Chinese engineers in November last year has been killed during an operation in Karachi’s Manghopir area,” said Additional Inspector-General of Police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Azad Khan, per the Dawn. Khan said the slain terrorist was identified as Zafran, while two of his accomplices were also killed in the operation, according to the report. 

According to the Dawn, senior CTD official Raja Umer Khattab said that the operation was jointly carried out by the CTD and personnel of intelligence agencies. “The teams raided a house in the Manghopir area and killed the terrorists during an operation,” he said. “They belonged to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).”

Li Wei, director of Center for Counter-terrorism Studies under the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Tuesday that Pakistan has long faced a serious threat from terrorism, including groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army and the TTP. The Pakistani security forces’ latest operation against the three terrorists from the TTP will help further combat the country's terrorist capabilities.

On November 5 in 2024, two Chinese nationals were shot at and wounded by a private security guard in a textile mill in Karachi. At that time, investigators had suspected that it was a targeted attack, the Dawn reported.

Following the incident, the Foreign Office of Pakistan said that the attack was being probed, adding that Pakistan was committed to the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in the country.

In response to the attack, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on November 6 2024 that the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi sent officials to visit the two injured Chinese nationals who had been taken hospital at once, urging Pakistan to do everything it can to save and treat the injured, swiftly investigate the case, hunt down the perpetrator, and take concrete actions to protect the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.

“China will maintain close communication with Pakistan on the treatment of the injured, investigation of the case and protection of the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan,” said Mao.

Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir in Beijing, reiterating that China supports Pakistan in resolutely combating all forms of terrorism and hopes that the Pakistani military will continue to make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan. 

Syed Asim Munir said that the Pakistani military will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan and is willing to actively advance stronger counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries.

Li said that China and Pakistan's counter-terrorism cooperation is multifaceted, involving judicial collaboration, intelligence sharing and joint military exercises. “Such cooperation helps Pakistan maintain its security and interests, while also ensuring the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which plays a crucial role in promoting Pakistan's development,” Li said.