KEY POINTS
- Killings reported in Sindh, Punjab, KP, Balochistan, and PoK
- Most targets had direct links to major attacks in India
- Pattern suggests coordinated dismantling of anti-India terror infrastructure
A series of high-profile killings has shocked Pakistan, with top operatives from terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed shot dead by unknown assailants since late 2023. These include key figures involved in major attacks in India, such as Saifullah Khalid, Abu Qatal, and Adnan Ahmed. The targeted killings, spread across Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, suggest a systematic dismantling of anti-India terror networks operating in the region.
Top LeT Commander Saifullah Khalid Gunned Down by Unknown Assailants in Pakistan’s Sindh
A top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, Saifullah Khalid, who was involved in planning major terror attacks in India, has been shot dead in Pakistan’s Sindh province on May 18, 2025. The incident happened in Matli city, located in the Badin district. Saifullah was reportedly told by his group to stay indoors and was also given security. However, on Sunday, when he stepped out of his house, unknown attackers shot him dead at a nearby street crossing.
Khalid was linked to several major terror attacks in India:
Bengaluru 2005: He was accused of planning the shooting at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), where a respected professor, Munish Chandra Puri, was killed and four others were injured.
Nagpur 2006: Khalid was the mastermind behind the attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters. In this incident, police shot and killed all three terrorists involved.
Rampur 2008: He also played a key role in the attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. Seven CRPF jawans and one civilian were killed. The two attackers managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
Top Hafiz Saeed Aide Abu Qatal Shot Dead by Unknown Assailants in Pakistan
Abu Qatal, also known as Qatal Sindhi, a key operative of the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was shot dead by unknown assailants in Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan on 16 March 2025. Qatal was a close aide of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and played a significant role in planning and executing deadly terror operations, particularly in the Poonch-Rajouri region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Abu Qatal was believed to be behind several deadly attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years:
Rajouri (January 2023): Militants opened fire, killing five people on January 1. The next day, an IED blast in the same area killed two more.
Poonch (April 2023): An attack on April 20 led to the death of five soldiers.
Rajouri (May 2023): Another deadly strike in the Kandi area on May 5 claimed the lives of five more soldiers.
Reasi (June 2024): Qatal also masterminded the brutal attack on a bus carrying pilgrims near Shiv Khori on June 9, 2024, which left nine people dead and over 40 injured.
Pakistani Scholar Linked to Kulbhushan Jadhav’s Abduction Shot Dead by Unknown Attacker
Mufti Shah Mir, a Pakistani religious scholar accused of assisting Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, in the abduction of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav from Iran, was shot dead by unknown gunmen riding motorcycles in Balochistan on 9th March 2025. Mir was a member of the radical Islamist group Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and was reportedly involved in arms and human trafficking, operating under the guise of a religious scholar.
Maulana Kashif Ali, Hafiz Saeed’s Brother-in-Law, Shot Dead by Unknown Assailant
Maulana Kashif Ali, a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba operative and head of its political wing, the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on 17 February 2025. The attackers, armed with automatic weapons, arrived at his residence on a motorcycle and opened fire. Ali, who was also the brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, played a key role in advancing the group’s political agenda through PMML, helping to legitimize its influence in Pakistan’s political landscape.
Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Mufti Fayyaz killed by unknown man
Mufti Fayyaz, a member of the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad, was killed by unidentified assailants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan on 20 May 2024. Known for his role as a religious preacher and recruiter, Fayyaz was actively involved in indoctrinating and enlisting individuals for various terror groups. His killing marks another blow to extremist networks operating in the region.
Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Top Trainer Abdullah Shaheen Dies in Mysterious Road Accident
Abdullah Shaheen, a top trainer of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), died under mysterious circumstances in a road accident in Pakistan on 22 December 2023. Shaheen was known for training recruits in combat and guerrilla warfare, playing a key role in LeT’s operational capabilities. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised suspicions, given his high-ranking position within the organization.
Top Lashkar-e-Taiba Financier Haji Ulmar Gul Gunned Down by Unknown Assailants in Pakistan
Haji Ulmar Gul, a key financier of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Tank, Pakistan, along with his two associates on 21 December 2023. Gul was known for extorting large sums of money from poor local residents under the guise of taxation to fund terrorist activities. His death is considered a significant setback for Lashkar-e-Taiba’s financial network, potentially disrupting the flow of funds to other operatives within the organization.
Lashkar-e-Taiba Recruiter Habibullah Shot Dead by Unidentified Gunman in Pakistan
Habibullah, also known as Khan Baba, a terrorist and recruiter associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan on 17 December 2023. According to reports, a group of unknown assailants opened fire on him, leading to his death on the spot. Habibullah played a significant role in recruiting individuals for LeT’s operations, and his killing marks another blow to the group’s network in the region.
Adnan Ahmed, Mastermind of Pampore CRPF Attack, Shot Dead by Unknown Assailant
Adnan Ahmed, also known as Hanzala Adnan, a key operative of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Karachi on 6 December 2023. He was the mastermind behind the 2016 attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Pampore, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the martyrdom of eight soldiers and left 22 others injured. His death marks the elimination of a significant figure involved in orchestrating cross-border terror activities.
Jaish-e-Mohammed Terrorist Younus Khan Gunned Down by Unknown Assailant in Pakistan
Younus Khan, a recruiter for the banned terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Mamond area of Bajaur, Pakistan in 25 November 2023. The attack occurred while he was on his way to the mosque for Fajr (morning) prayers. Younus Khan was actively involved in recruiting individuals for the group’s militant operations, and his death is seen as a significant setback to Jaish-e-Mohammed’s activities in the region.
Unknown Gunmen Kill LeT Cadre Md. Muzamil and Associate in Sialkot
Md. Muzamil, a member of the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, along with his associate Naeemur Rahman, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Khokhran Chowk in Pasrur tehsil, Sialkot, Pakistan on 15 November 2023. Both individuals were reportedly involved in the group’s operations in the region. Their deaths mark a notable setback for Lashkar-e-Taiba’s activities in the area.
LeT Terrorist Naeemur Rahman Shot Dead by Unknown Assailant in Pakistan
Naeemur Rahman, a terrorist affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, was shot dead by unidentified attackers at Khokhran Chowk in Pasrur Tehsil, Sialkot, Pakistan on 15 November 2023. The incident created panic in the area, as the sudden attack took place in a busy public location. Rahman was believed to be involved in Lashkar-e-Taiba’s local operations.
Close Aide of Maulana Masood Azhar Shot Dead by Unknown Gunman in Karachi
Maulana Raheem Ullah Tariq, a terrorist linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad and a close associate of the wanted Maulana Masood Azhar, was shot dead by unknown attackers in the Orangi Town area of Karachi, Pakistan on13 November 2023. Tariq was on his way to attend a religious gathering when unidentified gunmen opened fire on him, leading to his death.
Former LeT Commander Akram Khan Shot Dead by Unknown Gunman in Pakistan
Akram Khan, also known as Akram Ghazi, a former Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Bajaur, Pakistan on 9 November 2023. He led the LeT recruitment cell from 2018 to 2020 and was responsible for recruiting and radicalizing many terrorists who entered the Kashmir Valley in several groups over the past two years. His death is a major setback for the group’s operations in the region.
LeT Commander Khwaja Shahid Beheaded by Mysterious Assailant
Khwaja Shahid, also known as Miya Mujahid, a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and one of the planners behind the 2018 attack on an Indian Army camp in Sunjwan, Jammu and Kashmir, was found beheaded near the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on 7 November 2023. The identity of the attackers remains unknown.
Accused in Sarabjit Singh Murder, Amir Sarfaraz Tamba Shot Dead by Unknown Gunman
Amir Sarfaraz Tamba, a key accused in the murder of Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle in Lahore, Pakistan on 27 October 2023. Tamba was a close associate of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and had long been linked to the terror outfit’s activities. His killing adds to the growing list of high-profile terror operatives eliminated under mysterious circumstances in recent months.
Maulana Tariq Jameel’s Son Asim Jameel Shot Dead by Unidentified Gunmen in Pakistan
Asim Jameel, son of controversial Islamic preacher Maulana Tariq Jameel, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Tandlianwala area of Khanewal, Pakistan. He is Known for his association with the Tablighi Jamaat. Previously, Asim had drawn criticism for making controversial remarks, including blaming “immodest” women for the spread of COVID-19. His killing has raised concerns over growing internal tensions and targeted attacks in the region.
Top Anti-India Terror Operative Dawood Malik Gunned Down by Unknown Assailants in Pakistan
Dawood Malik, the founder of the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Jabbar and a key figure involved in anti-India activities, was shot dead by masked gunmen in the Mirali area of North Waziristan, Pakistan on October 20, 2023. Malik was a close aide of Maulana Masood Azhar, one of India’s most wanted terrorists. The attack occurred at a private clinic, and the assailants managed to flee the scene immediately following the shooting. Malik’s death marks a significant blow to terror networks operating in the region.
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