New Delhi, March 16, KDC: Abu Qatal, a key Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative and one of India’s most wanted terrorists involved in the 2023 Rajouri attack and 2024 Reasi bus attack, has been shot dead under mysterious circumstances in Pakistan, according to media reports.
Also known as Faisal Nadeem and Qatal Sindhi was killed late Saturday night by unidentified gunmen.
Another senior LeT leader, whose identity has been strictly kept secret, was seriously injured in the same attack. The incident took place in Jhelum town of Punjab, Pakistan, when the convoy was traveling from Mirpur to Dina.
Faisal Nadeem and the driver were confirmed dead on the spot, while the injured high-profile LeT leader has been shifted to Rawalpindi for treatment.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that another could be either Saifullah Khalid, LeT’s foreign wing chief, or Mansoor Sohrawardy, another top LeT commander. However, there is no official confirmation on this yet.
Abu Qatal, whose real name was Zia-ur-Rehman, hailed from Goth Jan Mohammad, Kaloi, Tehsil Jam Nawaj Ali, Sanghar district, Sindh Province, Pakistan.
He was a crucial figure in LeT’s operations, handling terrorist networks across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Sindh. He was in charge of the Khuiratta Dett of LeT, located in Kotli district of PoJK, and served as the main link between LeT operatives in PoJK and Sindh Province.
As Hafiz Saeed’s most trusted handler, Abu Qatal played a key role in ensuring control over LeT units across PoJK. On multiple occasions, Saeed personally relied on him to maintain operational coordination.
Abu Qatal was a high-priority target for Indian security agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Indian Army, due to his direct involvement in planning and executing multiple terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
He played a major role in the June 9, 2024, Reasi bus attack, where terrorists targeted a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing multiple people and injuring several others.
He was also deeply involved in the January 1, 2023, Rajouri terror attack in Dhangri village, where terrorists targeted civilians. The next day, an IED blast at the same location claimed more lives, including two children.
NIA’s Investigation and Chargesheet
Abu Qatal’s name prominently featured in the NIA’s investigation, which exposed the role of Pakistan-based LeT commanders in recruiting and deploying terrorists across the border to target civilians, particularly from the minority community, as well as security forces.
The NIA had filed a chargesheet against five accused, including Abu Qatal (Zia-ur-Rehman), Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt (also known as Ali, Habibullah, and Nouman), Mohd Qasim (originally from India, who crossed into Pakistan in 2002 and later joined LeT)
The chargesheet detailed how Qatal and his associates trained and infiltrated terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir, executing targeted attacks under direct instructions from LeT handlers in Pakistan.
Associates Eliminated in Pakistan
Qatal’s key associates, including: Riyaz Ahmed alias Abu Qasim, and Hanzla Adnan, were killed in separate incidents in Pakistan in September 2023 and December 2023, respectively.
Past Activities and Infiltration in Jammu & Kashmir
Qatal had infiltrated Jammu region in the early 2000s and later exfiltrated in 2005. However, he maintained a strong network of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) in Poonch and Rajouri through his old contacts. (KDC)
