Punjab, March 16 — A top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, wanted by Indian agencies for attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, was killed by gunmen in an attack in the Jhelum area of Pakistan’s Punjab on Saturday evening.
Zia-ur-Rehman, alias Abu Qatal, alias Nadeem, alias Qatal Sindhi, was killed along with his security guard, according to media reports.
Considered the most trusted handler of LeT founder and 26/11 attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, the 43-year-old Rehman was the main handler of the outfit.
According to Indian officials, Rehman had crossed into the Jammu region in the early 2000s and exfiltrated in 2005. He had a wide network of overground workers in Poonch and Rajouri through his old contacts, they said.
He was charge-sheeted by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other sections for an attack on Hindu minorities in Dhangri village of Rajouri district in 2023, they added.