Islamabad: In a significant development, Dawood Malik, a prominent figure involved in anti-India activities, was assassinated in North Waziristan, Pakistan, on October 20th, by unidentified gunmen. Malik was the founder of Lashkar-e-Jabbar and had close ties to one of India's most wanted terrorists, Mohammad Masood Azhar from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Reports indicate that masked gunmen ambushed Malik at a private clinic in the Mirali area of North Waziristan, opening fire on him before fleeing the scene. This incident has raised questions about potential conflicts between various terrorist groups operating in Pakistan.
Malik's activities had been closely monitored due to his significant role in Lashkar-e-Jabbar, a radical group known for promoting extreme ideologies. His elimination deals a severe blow to both the larger network of extremists he was associated with and his own organization. Unfortunately, this incident adds to the rising number of anti-India terrorist killings in Pakistan and other countries.
This event represents a setback in the operations of these extremist groups and compounds the challenges they face. Malik's assassination is the latest in a series of premeditated executions in Pakistan targeting terrorists involved in anti-India operations.
Notably, this incident follows the murder of Mufti Qaiser Farooq, a close associate of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Farooq's death had a significant impact on the terror outfit. He was ambushed while walking with a group of his madrasa students in Karachi, with the attack captured on CCTV footage held by Pakistani security forces.
The death of Mufti Qaiser Farooq marked the sixteenth killing of anti-India terrorists in the Pakistan-Canada region in the past nineteen months, all carried out by unidentified assailants. This pattern began with the assassination of Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, also known as Zahid Akhoond, a member of JeM and a hijacker of IC-814 flight. He was shot twice in the head at close range, raising concerns among Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and law enforcement agencies.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan terrorist, was also killed within the premises of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sahib in Canada's Surrey. Another Khalistani terrorist and the leader of the banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) died in a London hospital just days before.
These deliberate murders have sent shockwaves through Pakistan's military circles, leading the ISI to relocate twelve of its most valuable "assets" to safe locations. The deaths of two LeT members, Abu Qasim Kashmiri in Rawalkot and Qari Khurram Shehzad in Nazimabad earlier this year, necessitated this preventive measure.
A Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, Bashir Ahmad Peer, also known as Imtiaz Alam, was killed in an aggressive attack within the ISI Headquarters' perimeter and the military garrison town. This development left the agency and Pakistani law enforcement authorities in turmoil.
Despite their rigorous efforts to find solutions, Pakistan's security forces have swiftly pointed fingers at India's external intelligence agency, often overlooking information that suggests local involvement. The assailants displayed a deep familiarity with the victims' surroundings, conducting their attacks with alarming precision. Complicity allowed them to escape and blend into the local population easily.
The Canadian government, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accused India of involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, leading to a significant diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
These incidents underscore the intricate web of terrorism and treachery that continues to affect the region. The attackers, well-acquainted with their targets' surroundings, executed their plans with precision, often with the help of accomplices who facilitated their escape.
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