Attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi foiled, militants killed.

Byline: Imtiaz Ali

KARACHI -- Three heavily armed militants were shot dead in an encounter with law enforcers during a gun-and-grenade attack on the Chinese consulate in the city that also claimed the lives of two police officials and two visa applicants on Friday morning, according to officials and witnesses.

The assault on the consulate, which is situated in the 'high security zone' of Clifton's Block-4, also left a private guard of the foreign mission wounded.

The attackers lobbed at least 10 hand grenades destroying three vehicles and attempted to break open the armoured gate of the consulate with C4 explosives, but were shot dead before they could do so. The banned insurgent group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) promptly claimed responsibility even when the operation against the attackers was still under way, said a senior official of the Counter-Terrorism DepartAment (CTD) of Sindh police.

Two police officials, two visa applicants martyred in gun and grenade assault BLA claims responsibility China says any bid to undermine Sino-Pak relationship is doomed to fail

The Chinese embassy in Pakistan strongly condemned the terrorist attack and appreciated the law enforcers for their timely action. 'We extend our deep condolences to the two Pakistani policemen martyred in the attack,' the embassy stated.

'Any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan relationship is doomed to fail,' added the official statement issued by the Chinese embassy.

Sharing preliminary investigation report of the deadly ambush, senior CTD officer Raja Umar Khattab, who is investigating the case, said it was around 9:30am when the three heavily armed men came out of a white Suzuki Liana car after parking it near the consulate. As they proceeded towards the consulate with Kalashnikov in their hands, two policemen posted at a checkpoint opened fire on them, the CTD officer said. CCTV footage showed that the attackers became panicky and resorted to a grenade attack. They hurled four hand grenades at the police officials, killing assistant sub-inspector Ashraf Dawood, 48, and constable, Amir Khan, 35, on the spot and leaving a private guard, Mohammed Juman, injured. The martyred policemen belonged to the foreign security cell, which was established by police for the protection of Chinese nationals.

Two of the attackers then moved towards the visa facility near the reception area of the consulate. A private guard immediately shut the main gate while a female official of the...