Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, infamous for orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has reportedly gone into hiding. This move follows the daylight assassination of a key commander, raising concerns about the stability of Pakistan’s terror infrastructure. Saeed, once a prominent figure, has cancelled all public engagements and is believed to be evading capture.
The latest victim, Sheikh Moiz Mujahid, a senior Lashkar commander and trusted lieutenant of Saeed, was gunned down outside his residence in Kasur. The perpetrators, described as unknown assailants, escaped the scene without leaving a trace, highlighting the sophisticated nature of these targeted killings.
This assassination comes on the heels of significant blows to Saeed’s organization. India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ in May 2025 reportedly dismantled numerous Lashkar-e-Taiba training camps and infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Precision airstrikes targeted facilities in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Mansehra, eliminating over 100 terrorists, including key operational figures and trainers. This operation crippled the network’s capabilities and sent a clear message about India’s resolve to counter terrorism at its source.
The recent spate of killings suggests a deliberate and methodical dismantling of the remnants of Saeed’s terror network. Over the past seven months, at least four high-ranking commanders have been precisely eliminated. These include Zia-ur-Rehman in March, Abu Qatal in May, Abu Saifullah Khalid in mid-May, and most recently, Sheikh Moiz Mujahid in October. Each assassination was carried out with precision, leaving authorities with no leads.
Hafiz Saeed, who once operated with impunity despite a $10 million bounty on his head, is now living in constant fear. Previously enjoying state protection, the combination of Indian counter-terrorism operations and these mysterious assassinations has forced him underground. The architect of mass murder is now experiencing the terror he inflicted on others, a stark testament to his declining influence and the increasing pressure on his illicit operations.
