Pakistani Scholar Accused in Kulbhushan Jadhav Abduction Assassinated

Balochistan – Mufti Shah Mir, a Pakistani religious scholar implicated in the abduction of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian businessman and former navy officer, has been killed. Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Mir in Balochistan on Friday.

According to police reports cited by Dawn, the attack occurred as Mir was leaving evening prayers. He was immediately taken to a hospital in Turbat but died from his injuries.

Police stated that armed men on motorcycles opened fire on Mufti Shah Mir, seriously wounding him. He later died in the hospital. Reports indicate he sustained multiple bullet wounds.

Mir, who had close ties to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party, had reportedly survived two previous assassination attempts. This latest attack follows the recent killings of two other JUI-F leaders in Khuzdar.

While publicly known as a religious scholar, Mir was also allegedly involved in human and arms trafficking. Sources speaking to the Times of India (TOI) suggest that Mir may have been assassinated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the very agency he was accused of assisting in Jadhav’s kidnapping. This theory points to a potential internal conflict within the ISI.

According to TOI sources, Mir was also suspected of providing intelligence on Baloch insurgents to the Pakistani military. Additionally, he was allegedly linked to the 2023 murder of a teacher in Turbat accused of blasphemy.

Local police are investigating the assassination, which has added to the growing instability in the Balochistan region.