PSX attackers killed during eight minutes-Militants came with aim to hold people hostage: DG Rangers.

KARACHI -- Major-General Omer Ahmed Bokhari, addressing a press conference in Karachi, said the four militants that came to the PSX, had intended to not only enter the building but also carry out violence and hold people hostage.

'Every terrorist was armed with weapons that included Ak-47s, hand grenades, rocket launchers. They were also carrying food and water,' he said.

Speaking about the entire operation, Maj Gen Bokhari said the four attackers were killed within eight minutes. He said that they carried out the attack at 10:02am and were gunned down at 10:10am.

'It was a combined effort with rangers, police and PSX security guards,' he said adding that the entire building was cleared within 25 minutes so that the routine activity of the Pakistan Stock Exchange was not affected.

Clearing the air about who was responsible for the attack, the DG said they were investigating and trying to identify the 'gaps'. 'We will find out what gaps were present due to which these militants came through and investigate them,' he added.

He continued, 'The PSX is an important symbol of economic activity hence the objective of these militants was to increase casualties here and hold hostages.'

'It was an attempt to send a message to the world that Pakistan is not safe. They wanted to damage Pakistan's economic activity and harm investors' confidence,' DG Rangers noted.

He added, "I can guarantee you that this terrorist attack could not have taken place without a 'hostile terrorist agency' and number one on the list is RAW.'

The Maj-Gen further said the authorities will probe the attack thoroughly.

'Pakistan's law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in the past few years have taken action against criminal gangs and terrorist organisations, shrinking their space [to operate with impunity]. Hence, this has frustrated hostile agencies,' he said. 'We are fully aware that hostile agencies are struggling to form a nexus of remnants of some terrorist organisations such as MQM-London and sub-nationalists.'

He added, 'We are aware of who is doing what and forming which nexuses. You will see, we will reach to the depth of this and shrink their [militants] space further.'

Responding to question, DG Rangers Sindh said that it is easy to call everything an intelligence failure. 'Karachi is a large city and it isn't as easy as four people sitting in a car and carrying out militant activities...