Pakistan: Pathankot Attack Mastermind Shahid Latif Shot Dead by Unidentified Assailants
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New Delhi: Unidentified assailants shot and killed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Shahid Latif, who was the mastermind behind the 2016 attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, outside a mosque in Pakistan's Sialkot district on Wednesday, October 11.
The attack took place in the early hours of Wednesday as Latif and his brother were leaving the Noor Madina mosque in Daska town after prayers, according to the news agency PTI. Three individuals on motorcycles opened fire, resulting in the immediate deaths of 53-year-old Latif and Haris Hashim. Another individual was injured.
The district police officer of Sialkot, Hasan Iqbal termed Latif's killing as an act of "terrorism and target killing". He said, "Shahid Latif had security threats. All the investigators are on the spot. Details will be shared with media soon."
Latif, also known as Bilal and Noor Al Din, was designated a terrorist in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and served as the launching commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Sialkot. He was actively involved in the planning, facilitation, and execution of terror attacks in India, according to officials. Latif first entered Kashmir in 1993 from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a member of the banned Harkat-ul-Ansar terror group. He was arrested a year later and incarcerated in the Kol Balwal jail in Jammu.
During his time in prison, it is believed that he was further radicalised, possibly by JeM chief Masood Azhar, who was also detained in the same facility until his release in 1999 as part of the exchange for the hostages of the Indian Airlines plane that was hijacked and taken to Kandahar.
After serving 16 years, Latif was deported through the Attari-Wagah border in 2010 and subsequently reconnected with Azhar, who had by then established the JeM. An unidentified official told PTI, "This is the biggest blow to JeM on Pakistani soil."
The 2016 attack on the Pathankot Air Force Station resulted in the death of seven IAF personnel and a three-day-long siege.
This article went live on October eleventh, two thousand twenty three, at forty-five minutes past nine at night.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.