Three suspected Taliban militants and a paramilitary personnel were killed in a shootout in a Pashtun-dominated area of Pakistan's largest city today.
"The exchange of gunfire took place when Pakistan Rangers conducted a targeted operation in the area," a spokesman for the paramilitary force said.
Initial investigations indicated that the militants killed in the shootout in Gulshan-e-Buner area of Karachi belonged to the Tehrik-e-Taliban, which was led by Hakimullah Mehsud until he was killed in a US drone attack in North Waziristan this month. Mulla Fazlullah has replaced him as the new TTP chief.
The spokesman said the militants were planning to carry out attacks during Muharram. They opened fire when the Rangers team was conducting a search operation.
The slain soldier belonged to the Anti-Terrorist Wing. Another soldier was injured in the raid that led to the seizure of a cache of weapons, including grenades.
Gulshan-e-Buner is located in Landhi district near Quaidabad area, which is dominated by Pashtuns.
