Reuters/Karachi
Gunmen killed two Pakistani soldiers in Karachi yesterday, the military said, a rare attack on the powerful army that could indicate the beginning of a push-back against a tightening crackdown on violence.
The two were shot on a busy road in the centre of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and financial hub.
The killings follow an attack that killed four soldiers last month.
No soldier had been killed in Karachi before that since March, underlining their protected status in a city where murders of policemen, politicians and prominent businessmen are common.
“The two were sitting in their official vehicle, when two men shot them from behind and fled,” senior police officer Jamil Ahmed told media.
Pakistan’s military said unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle fired on the soldiers.
The victims’ jeep was stuck in traffic on the city’s main MA Jinnah Road when they came under attack from behind, according to officials.
“One of them died on the spot whereas the other succumbed to his injuries at the hospital,” Jamil Ahmed, a senior police officer said.
The details were confirmed in a statement by Pakistan’s military which branded the shootings a “terrorist act”.
Police told media they had discovered 9mm cartridge cases at the scene.
“This is a very serious incident but we will track the attackers down soon,” Ahmed said.
Karachi, a metropolis of about 20mn people, is home to the stock exchange and central bank and is plagued by political, ethnic and sectarian violence.
Security officials say many politicians in the city have links to violent gangs, operating like a mafia to maintain their hold on power.
Two years ago, the military launched a crackdown targeting suspected militants and violent criminals.
Murders have sharply declined since the crackdown began, although violence is still common. In recent months, the crackdown has expanded to include alleged corruption.
Opposition politicians say the military is using it as an excuse to target them.
The military denies the accusations.
A Pakistani police official collects samples from inside a military police jeep at the site following an attack by gunmen in Karachi yesterday.
