Who was Abu Qatal, Hafiz Saeed's close aide & most wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba leader killed in Pakistan?
Abu Qatal’s death, which occurred on the night of Saturday in Pakistan’s Jhelum, has made headlines, as he was involved in some of the most devastating terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. He was also a close aide to 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
Also known as Qatal Sindhi, he was a senior member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group and one of its most wanted terrorists.
A key figure with close ties to Saeed, Qatal's activities were far-reaching, and his death is seen as a major blow to the terror network.
Death of a terror leader
Abu Qatal’s life came to a violent end in Jhelum, Pakistan, on a Saturday night. According to India Today sources, he was reportedly travelling with his security guard when unknown gunmen opened fire on his convoy.
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The assailants fired several rounds, killing Qatal and one of his security guards, while another guard was critically injured. The attack took place near Zeenat Hotel in the Dina area of Jhelum.
Despite being under the protection of Pakistan’s military, with both Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives and plainclothes military personnel assigned to his security, Qatal's death is seen as a significant blow to the organisation.
However, analysts remain concerned that LeT’s ability to reorganise and adapt could allow it to continue its operations, despite the loss of one of its key operatives.
Rise in Lashkar-e-Taiba
Abu Qatal's involvement in terrorism dates back to the early 2000s. He infiltrated into India in the 2002-03 period, operating in the Poonch-Rajouri region of Jammu and Kashmir. It was during this time that he cemented his association with Lashkar-e-Taiba, one of the most dangerous terror organisations in the region.
As a close aide to
