A Pattern of Shadowy Eliminations
The death of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) top commander, Abu Qatal, on March 15, 2025, in Pakistan’s Punjab province is the latest in a string of mysterious assassinations of terrorists linked to India. Since 2023, multiple high-profile figures tied to groups like LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen, and Khalistani outfits have been systematically eliminated by unidentified assailants. These killings, often executed in broad daylight by motorbike-borne gunmen, have left intelligence agencies scrambling to decipher the forces at play.
Is this an internal cleansing operation within terror groups, covert intelligence actions, or the result of factional rivalries? This article examines the pattern of these unexplained deaths and their implications.
Abu Qatal: The Latest Target in the Ongoing Purge
Abu Qatal, also known as Faisal Nadeem, was a key figure in LeT and played a pivotal role in orchestrating attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports indicate that unknown assailants fired 15 to 20 rounds at his convoy near Dina Punjab University, killing him and his security guard. Indian intelligence agencies had linked him to the 2023 Dhangri attack and the 2024 Reasi attack on Hindu pilgrims.
His killing follows the eerily similar deaths of other wanted terrorists, raising questions about who is behind these eliminations.
A Chain of Mysterious Assassinations
1. Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman (March 2024)
The United Jihad Council’s self-styled secretary general was found dead in Abbottabad. With no known suspects, his death remains shrouded in secrecy.
2. Shahid Latif (October 2023)
A mastermind behind the 2016 Pathankot attack, Latif was gunned down in Sialkot. Three motorbike-riding gunmen shot him after morning prayers.
3. Dawood Malik (October 2023)
A close associate of JeM chief Masood Azhar, Malik was shot dead at a clinic in North Waziristan. His assassination came just days after Latif’s killing.
4. Ziaur Rehman (September 2023)
A key recruiter for terror outfits in Kashmir, Rehman was killed in Karachi. Pakistani officials suggested a foreign hand, but provided no evidence.
5. Abu Qasim Kashmiri (September 2023)
Gunned down inside a mosque in Rawalakot, Kashmiri was a top handler of proxy terror groups.
6. Sardar Hussain Arain (August 2023)
An associate of Hafiz Saeed, Arain was killed in Sindh. The Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) claimed responsibility, citing an anti-extremist agenda.
7. Paramjit Singh Panjwar (May 2023)
A Pakistan-based Khalistani militant and leader of the banned Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Panjwar was shot in Lahore while on a walk.
8. Bashir Ahmad Peer (February 2023)
A key operative of Hizbul Mujahideen, Peer was shot at point-blank range in Rawalpindi. His death shook terrorist networks in Pakistan.
9. Syed Khalid Raza (February 2023)
A former commander of Al-Badr Mujahideen, Raza was killed near his residence in Karachi.
10. Zahoor Mistry (March 2022)
One of the hijackers of the 1999 Indian Airlines IC-814 flight, Mistry was assassinated in Karachi’s Akhtar Colony.
Who is Behind the Killings?
The pattern of these assassinations suggests multiple potential actors:
· Rival Terrorist Groups: Infighting among terror outfits often leads to internal purges. Some of these killings may be linked to power struggles within groups like LeT and JeM.
· Pakistani Deep State Actions: There are theories that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies might be eliminating individuals who have become liabilities, especially those under international scrutiny.
· Foreign Intelligence Operations: Given the precision of these hits, the involvement of external intelligence agencies cannot be ruled out.
· Local Resistance Movements: Groups like the SRA, which claimed responsibility for Arain’s death, indicate that anti-terror elements within Pakistan are also targeting extremists.
The Implications: A New Trend in Counter-Terrorism?
The increasing frequency of such assassinations suggests a shift in counter-terror strategies. These targeted killings have significantly weakened terrorist networks in Pakistan, forcing groups to rethink their operational security.
For India, these deaths remove high-value targets without direct engagement. However, they also raise concerns about the potential for retaliatory attacks.
For Pakistan, the inability to prevent these killings exposes weaknesses in internal security and raises questions about who truly controls the country’s extremist factions.
The Shadows Grow Longer
As Abu Qatal’s death adds another name to the growing list of mysteriously eliminated terrorists, one thing is clear: Pakistan’s soil is no longer a safe haven for India’s most wanted. Whether these deaths are a result of state-sponsored actions, internal rivalries, or external intelligence operations, they mark a significant shift in the fight against terrorism.
As these assassinations continue, the world watches to see who will be next in this silent purge of terror’s masterminds.
(With inputs from agencies)
