Three Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, including the mastermind behind a November 2024 attack on Chinese engineers, were killed in a counterterrorism operation in Karachi’s Manghopir area on Monday, July 28, 2025. Officials from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) confirmed the operation, which was conducted jointly with intelligence agencies.

The slain mastermind was identified as Zafran. Two accomplices were also killed during the raid on a house in Manghopir. The November 2024 attack, which targeted Chinese engineers at a textile mill in the SITE area, left two Chinese nationals wounded. While initially attributed to a verbal altercation between the engineers and a security guard, subsequent investigations revealed a targeted attack orchestrated by the TTP.

The incident highlights the ongoing security concerns surrounding Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan, particularly in the context of increased TTP activity following the end of a ceasefire in November 2022. A 2024 report by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) detailed 20 Chinese citizens killed and 34 injured in terrorist attacks since 2021.

This latest operation comes after several high-profile attacks targeting Chinese nationals in recent years. The increased violence has raised concerns in Beijing, particularly regarding the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.