KARACHI: Pakistan Rangers in an encounter Tuesday night in Ghagar Phatak killed two terrorists affiliated with banned outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), said a press release issued late on Tuesday.

The terrorists have been identified as Asim Khan, also known by aliases Nadir and Asad Swati, and Irfan Gul, alias Nasir.

The LeJ-affiliated terrorists were involved in a number of high-profile target killing cases, as well as other crimes, the Rangers' statement added.

The ‘operation’ against criminal elements in Pakistan’s commercial hub was initiated back in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism in Karachi.

Read: 43 killed in attack on bus carrying Ismailis in Karachi

The brutal murder of 45 members from the Ismaili community in May prompted the civilian and military leadership into expanding operations to rid Karachi of crime and terror.

A high-level apex committee meeting chaired by the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on May 14, 2015 decided to implement effective policing and surveillance in the "vast suburbs of Karachi", to prevent what the military spokesperson said were "sneaking terrorist attacks".

At the meeting, Gen Sharif vowed to continue "across the board operations" at an increased pace and hunt down terrorists who commit heinous acts.