In a significant blow to terrorist networks operating in Pakistan, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) gunned down three suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants during a raid in Karachi’s Manghopir area early Monday morning.
Among the slain militants was Zafran, a high-value target with a Rs20 million bounty, and the alleged mastermind behind the November 2024 attack on Chinese engineers in Karachi’s SITE area. According to CTD officials, the operation was launched following actionable intelligence that members of the banned outfit, TTP-Fitna Al-Khawarij, were hiding in a house in the neighbourhood.
The CTD team, supported by intelligence agencies, faced heavy resistance as the suspects opened fire. All three terrorists were killed in the ensuing gunfight. One of them was identified as a trained suicide bomber. Explosives, suicide vests, hand grenades, and a target list were recovered from the hideout. A bomb disposal squad later cleared the premises.
Speaking to reporters, CTD officials confirmed that Zafran had orchestrated the targeted shooting of two Chinese nationals at a textile mill last year. That attack, initially suspected to be the result of a personal dispute, was later linked to organised militant planning.
The operation underscores Pakistan’s ongoing struggle against a resurgent TTP. Since the group’s ceasefire with the government collapsed in late 2022, attacks—particularly targeting security personnel and Chinese nationals—have escalated. Data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies revealed 85 militant attacks in May 2025 alone, with Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa worst affected.
Chinese nationals remain a high-risk target, with over 20 killed since 2021. Monday’s operation marks a small but important victory in a broader counterterrorism effort aimed at safeguarding foreign citizens and restoring internal security. Investigations are ongoing to trace the house owner and any local facilitators involved.