Tarar Says Karachi Attackers Must Be Called Terrorists
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday criticised the language being used in some international coverage of the recent Karachi Rangers facility attack, saying those involved in terrorism should not be described through softer terms. His remarks came in Islamabad after a Turkish broadcaster referred to the attackers as militants in a report on the assault.
The minister objected specifically to the terminology used for the attackers who targeted a Pakistan Rangers facility in Karachi, where three security personnel were martyred. Tarar said the incident was an act of terrorism and argued that changing the description of the attackers diluted the gravity of the violence committed against innocent people and security forces.
The controversy has emerged at a time when Pakistan is seeking stronger international recognition of its position on cross-border terrorism. Officials in Islamabad have repeatedly stressed that attacks on Pakistani soil should be treated as terrorism, especially when security installations, civilians and law-enforcement personnel are targeted.
Tarar said terrorists must be identified as terrorists and should not be placed under labels that could create ambiguity about their actions. He also stated that terrorism has no caste, colour, creed or religion, framing the issue as one of national security rather than identity or background.
His statement followed an announcement by the military’s media wing that one of the attackers involved in the Karachi Rangers facility assault had been captured. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the detained attacker was an Afghan national and was linked to the Indian proxy group Jamaatul Ahrar, while officials said he and his accomplices had received training in Afghanistan before entering Pakistan.
The Karachi incident has added to Islamabad’s concerns over militant sanctuaries and the movement of armed groups across the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires on Monday and issued a strong demarche over the attack, reinforcing Pakistan’s demand that Kabul act against groups allegedly using Afghan soil to plan or facilitate violence inside Pakistan.
Pakistan has raised similar concerns with the Taliban administration for months, urging it to dismantle hideouts used by groups accused of launching attacks across the border. Afghan authorities have often rejected accusations of allowing such networks to operate, but Pakistani officials maintain that repeated attacks show the threat remains active and unresolved.
The latest exchange also highlights how wording in international reporting can become part of a larger diplomatic dispute. For Pakistan, the description of attackers is not merely a media issue; officials argue it affects how the world understands the scale of the country’s counterterrorism challenge and the responsibility of regional actors.
The matter is likely to remain in focus as investigators continue to examine the Karachi attack and Pakistan presses Afghanistan for action. Islamabad’s next steps may include further diplomatic messaging, additional security briefings and continued efforts to ensure that attacks on Pakistani security personnel are recognised internationally as terrorism.