Lashkar-e-Taiba’s most wanted terrorist, Abu Qatal, was shot dead in Pakistan on Saturday night. A key planner of multiple terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, he had long been on the radar of security agencies.
Abu Qatal, whose real name was Zia-ur-Rehman, was traveling with his security guard in the Jhelum area around 7 PM when unidentified gunmen opened fire. Witnesses report that the attackers fired 15 to 20 rounds, instantly killing Qatal and his guard.
A close associate of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Qatal played a critical role in orchestrating terror strikes in India.
Key Role in Lashkar-e-Taiba Operations
The 43-year-old terrorist was a top Lashkar handler, responsible for planning and executing attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch-Rajouri region. Alongside Saifullah Sajid Jutt, he was in charge of deploying terrorists in the area. He oversaw operations from LeT’s Khuiratta Dett base in Kotli District, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Mastermind Behind Deadly Reasi Bus Attack and 2023 Rajouri Attacks
According to an exclusive dossier accessed by India Today, Qatal served as the primary link between LeT terrorists in PoJK and Sindh, Pakistan. He infiltrated the Jammu region in early 2000 and later exfiltrated in 2005.
One of the deadliest attacks linked to him was the June 9, 2024, attack on a bus carrying pilgrims returning from the Shiv Khori temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. Under his command, the attack resulted in nine deaths, including seven pilgrims, and 41 injuries.
His terror activities extended beyond Reasi. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had named him in its chargesheet for the 2023 Rajouri attacks.
On January 1, 2023, terrorists targeted civilians in Rajouri’s Dhangri village, followed by an IED blast the next day, killing seven people, including two children. The attack sent shockwaves across the region, with investigations confirming Qatal as one of the key masterminds.
Terror Recruitment and Proxy Outfits
NIA investigations revealed that Qatal, along with two other Pakistan-based Lashkar handlers, was instrumental in recruiting and dispatching terrorists to target civilians and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
Beyond direct attacks, he also helped form proxy terror outfits like:
- People’s Anti-Fascist Force (PAFF)
- The Resistance Force (TRF)
These groups were fronts for Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, allowing them to claim responsibility for attacks while maintaining plausible deniability.
A Major Blow to Lashkar-e-Taiba
Security forces had been tracking Qatal for years due to his deep involvement in terror operations. Along with Sajid Jutt and Qasim, he was part of a well-coordinated network responsible for launching attacks in India.
While Qatal and Jutt were Pakistani nationals, Qasim crossed into Pakistan in 2002 and later joined LeT. Together, they planned infiltrations and terrorist deployments in Jammu and Kashmir, working under direct instructions from their handlers.
The killing of Abu Qatal is a major blow to Lashkar-e-Taiba. His elimination is expected to disrupt LeT’s operational chain of command, significantly weakening its ability to plan and execute future attacks.
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