Terrorist campaign aims to create instability in Pakistan, analysts say

Political leaders, diplomats, and academics both inside and outside Pakistan have aired their views on halting terrorism in the country after an attack in the southern port city of Karachi on Friday night.

Three terrorists were killed after causing four deaths and injuring 19 others in an attack on police in the capital of the southern Sindh province, according to Sindh government spokesman Murtaza Wahab.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and expressed his appreciation for the police and security forces who neutralized the gunmen.

"Terrorists once again targeted Karachi, but this kind of cowardly act could not weaken the resolve of police and law enforcement agencies," the prime minister was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency.

"The whole nation stood with police and security institutions. ...Collective effort is needed to root out the menace of terrorism."

The attackers opened fire and hurled more than 25 hand grenades at a police office near the Saddar area around 7:10 pm local time, according to Deputy Inspector General Irfan Baloch.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, a banned terrorist organization, claimed responsibility for the attack. The Karachi police office was the target, it said in a statement issued on Friday evening.

Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China firmly supports Pakistan in maintaining security and stability and in achieving development and revitalization, and stands ready to provide assistance to the best of its ability to help Pakistan overcome temporary difficulties.

Wang made the remarks as he met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the sidelines of the 59th Munich Security Conference on Friday.