Top Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander, Accused in Rajouri Massacre, Reportedly Killed in Pakistan

New Delhi: A key commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group, identified as Faisal Nadeem, also known as Abu Qatal, has reportedly been shot dead in Pakistan, according to a report by India Today. Qatal was a highly sought-after operative and is believed to have been the mastermind behind the deadly attacks in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, in January 2023.Sources indicate that Qatal, who had close ties to Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was killed on Saturday night. India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) had previously filed charges against Qatal, along with two other Pakistan-based LeT operatives, in connection with the Rajouri attacks. This action was part of the NIA’s ongoing efforts to dismantle the terror network operating in the Jammu and Kashmir region.

The Rajouri attacks, which occurred in the Dhangri area, involved a terror attack on civilians on January 1, 2023, followed by an improvised explosive device (IED) blast the following day. These horrific incidents resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including two children, and left several others with serious injuries.

The NIA’s charge sheet named three LeT handlers as being responsible for orchestrating the attacks: Abu Qatal, Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt, and Mohd Qasim. While Qatal and Jutt were reportedly Pakistani nationals, Qasim is believed to have crossed over to Pakistan around 2002 and subsequently joined the LeT.

Investigations conducted by the NIA revealed that this trio was responsible for recruiting and deploying LeT terrorists from Pakistan with the specific aim of targeting civilians, particularly those from minority communities in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as security forces. These attacks were reportedly carried out under their direct instructions. The reported killing of Abu Qatal marks a significant development in the ongoing fight against terrorism in the region.