PESHAWAR: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the bomb attack on a police van in Karachi in which 13 commandos were killed.

In a statement on Thursday, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said his organisation had carried out the attack to avenge the killing of “innocent TTP fighters” by Rangers and police in “fake encounters” in Karachi, Peshawar and Swabi.

“Over 20 Taliban fighters were killed over the past one month in fake encounters and their bodies were thrown in different places,” he said, adding: “We are justified in continuing a defensive war until a formal agreement on ceasefire is reached with the government.” He said urgent steps should be taken to prevent such incidents and move forward the peace talks between the Taliban and the government.—Bureau Report