Synopsis
The assassination of Faisal Nadeem (Abu Qatal) in Jhelum raises questions about his alleged ties to Hafiz Saeed. While considered a senior member of the LeT, sources clarify he is not related to Saeed. His killing reflects ongoing tensions regarding the targeting of Kashmiri militants.Key Takeaways
- Abu Qatal was reportedly not related to Hafiz Saeed.
- He was a senior member of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
- His killing has led to increased security operations in the region.
- Abu Qatal was involved in multiple high-profile attacks.
- Concerns arise about other operatives going into hiding after his death.
Islamabad, March 16 (NationPress) The recent targeted assassination of Faisal Nadeem, known as Abu Qatal, in the Jhelum region of Pakistan has sparked considerable speculation regarding the assassination of Kashmiri militants within the nation. Although it has been suggested that Abu Qatal was not only a high-ranking member of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) but also a nephew of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of LeT and Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD), insider sources indicate that Abu Qatal may not be the relative of Hafiz Saeed, while confirming his senior role within the LeT.
According to sources, the individual who was targeted and killed in Jhelum by unidentified assailants does not originate from Punjab or Kashmir; rather, he is from Sindh province and had been stationed in Azad Kashmir for organizational duties. He had been residing in Azad Kashmir for an extended period.
“The deceased was affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and had previously served a prison sentence in Indian-administered Kashmir. His security guard was also killed during the assault, while his driver was severely injured and taken to the hospital,” the sources added.
The assassination of Abu Qatal is notably significant as he was recognized as one of the senior leaders of the LeT. He was also listed among India's most wanted terrorists for his role in the 2023 Rajouri attack and the 2024 Raesi bus attack.
“Abu Qatal was killed on Saturday night. The sensitivity of this incident is evident from the fact that subsequent raids occurred across at least two provinces throughout the night.
“This marks the third high-profile assassination linked to the Sajid Jutt Network (SJN) of LeT, following the killings of Hanzallah Adnan in Karachi and Qasim Kashmiri in Rawalkot. All these fatalities are connected to members of the SJN,”
Reliable sources suggest that following the death of Abu Qatal, who was on India’s wanted list, other operatives from the SJN have gone into hiding due to threats of retaliation against them.
In previous instances, Pakistan has associated the killings of Kashmiri militants within its borders with targeted assassinations, alleging that India employs local and Afghan mercenaries to eliminate individuals on its hit list.
