3 Pakistani Rangers killed in militant attack on Karachi headquarters

Three members of Pakistan's paramilitary Rangers force were killed and four others wounded after militants attacked the force's regional headquarters in the southern port city of Karachi, the military said on Sunday.

A militant drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the provincial headquarters of the Pakistan Rangers on Saturday night, triggering an intense gun battle with security forces, according to police and witnesses.

In a statement, the military said security forces killed three attackers and captured a fourth, who was wounded. It identified the captured suspect as an Afghan national.

The military said operations were continuing to clear the area and vowed to retaliate against those responsible. Pakistan has launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan in recent years, saying they targeted militants behind attacks on its soil, allegations that Kabul has consistently denied.

The militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the assault shortly after it took place.

The military described the group as an Indian proxy but provided no evidence to support the allegation. There was no immediate response from India, which has repeatedly rejected similar claims.

President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the three Rangers personnel killed in the attack, expressed condolences to their families and wished the injured a swift recovery in a statement issued by his office. He also praised the sacrifices of Pakistan's security forces and reaffirmed the country's resolve to eliminate terrorism.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif likewise condemned the attack and commended security forces for repelling the assault.

Pakistan has experienced a sharp rise in militant attacks targeting police and security forces in recent years.

The military said clearance operations were still under way to track down any remaining accomplices involved in the attack.