Hafiz Saeed aide, Senior Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Abu Qatal killed in Pakistan’s Jhelum

A senior Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, Abu Qatal, also known as Qatal Sindhi, was killed by unidentified gunmen in Jhelum, Sindh, Pakistan, on Saturday night.

Qatal, a prominent figure in the terror group, was linked to several high-profile attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. He had close ties with Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and was known for his significant influence within the organization.

In addition to his role in Lashkar-e-Taiba, Qatal was also responsible for creating two proxy terror groups, the People’s Anti-Fascist Force (PAFF) and The Resistant Force (TRF), which were established to mask the activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed since 2019.


Qatal was involved in the horrific attack on a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple in Reasi on June 9, which resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, including seven pilgrims from outside Jammu and Kashmir, and left 41 others injured.

PAFF, formed under Qatal's leadership, was designated a terrorist organization by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs on January 7, 2023, and has since been responsible for numerous attacks targeting both Indian security forces and civilians in the region.

The killing of Qatal is seen as a significant blow to Lashkar-e-Taiba, as he played a central role in orchestrating and executing terror plots. However, concerns remain about the group's resilience and its ability to reorganize after his death.