Jaish chief Masood Azhar’s right-hand man killed in Karachi

The recent incident in Karachi has shaken Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), a terrorist group responsible for several attacks in India. Maulana Raheem Ullah Tariq, a key JeM operative linked to the Pulwama bombing mastermind Masood Azhar, was killed by unidentified gunmen while on his way to a religious gathering. This marks the 19th targeted killing of an anti-India terrorist in Pakistan over the last 20 months.

Last week, Khwaja Shahid, a Lashkar terrorist believed to be the mastermind of the 2018 attack on Sunjuwan Army Camp in Jammu, was found dead in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The beheaded body of Khwaja Shahid was discovered shortly after reports of his abduction. In another incident, Daud Malik, a tribal leader and confidant of Jaish chief Masood Azhar, was gunned down in North Waziristan, following the recent killing of Mufti Qaiser Farooq, a close associate of Hafiz Saeed, in Karachi.

The series of targeted killings began with the assassination of JeM operative Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim, alias Zahid Akhoond, who was involved in the hijacking of IC-814 flight. Zahid Akhoond, a member of JeM, was shot twice in the head by unidentified gunmen, setting off a chain of similar incidents.

These targeted killings have created significant challenges for Pakistan, especially its intelligence agency ISI. The ISI has reportedly relocated many of its ‘critical assets’ (terror commanders) to different hideouts in response to the recent eliminations. This precautionary measure became necessary after the killings of Abu Qasim Kashmiri in Rawalkot and Qari Khurram Shehzad in Nazimabad earlier this year.

Despite the relentless pursuit of answers by Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies, the blame has been directed towards India’s external intelligence agency. However, evidence suggesting local criminal involvement has been dismissed. The assailants, familiar with their victims’ surroundings, executed precise attacks with the help of accomplices, seamlessly integrating into local communities.

The implications of these events are profound, revealing the complex network of terror and deceit that continues to affect the region. The targeted killings have not only impacted the operational capabilities of these terrorist organizations but have also exposed vulnerabilities within Pakistan’s security apparatus.

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