Who was ‘Doctor’ Hamza Burhan? The latest name in Pakistan’s terrorist killings pattern

New Delhi: Arjamand Gulzar, also known as Hamza Burhan, a senior commander of the banned terror outfit Al Badr and a wanted terrorist from Jammu and Kashmir, was reportedly killed by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to media reports.

The attack reportedly took place in Muzaffarabad, where Hamza is said to have sustained multiple bullet injuries.

His killing marks another major setback for terror networks operating from Pakistan, amid a growing list of terrorists and terror-linked operatives who have been targeted by unknown assailants in recent years.

Who was Hamza Burhan?

Hamza Burhan, who was also known by the alias “Doctor”, hailed from Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir and had reportedly been living in Pakistan for the last seven years.

According to reports, he was among the masterminds behind the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives.

Born in 1999 in Ratnipora, Kharbatpora area of Pulwama, Hamza is believed to have travelled to Pakistan using valid travel documents after allegedly becoming radicalised while pursuing higher studies.

During his stay in Pakistan, he joined the banned terrorist organisation Al Badr and later rose to the position of commander.

Security agencies had placed him on their list of most wanted terrorists, and the Union Home Ministry officially designated him as a terrorist in 2022.

From Pakistan, he allegedly coordinated and supported terror-related activities in Kashmir.

Series of killings inside Pakistan

Hamza’s death adds to a long list of terrorists and terror-linked individuals who have been killed in Pakistan over the past two years.

According to reports, at least 18 such figures linked to various terror organisations have been eliminated during this period, many of them in attacks carried out by unidentified gunmen.

Several of those killed were associated with groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Last year in May, Razaullah Nizami alias Abu Saifullah, identified as the mastermind behind the 2006 attack on the RSS headquarters and linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, was shot dead in Pakistan’s Sindh province.

A day later, another Lashkar-e-Taiba operative, Abdul Wahid Kumbho, was also killed in a similar manner.

Reports indicate that most of these killings followed a similar pattern, with unidentified attackers opening fire before escaping.

Major killings reported over the past years

March 2022

Zahoor Ibrahim, linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed

February 2023

Bashir Ahmed Peer, Hizbul Mujahideen

May 2023

Paramjit Singh Panjwar, Khalistani terrorist

September 2023

Maulana Zia-ur-Rehman, Lashkar-e-Taiba

Riyaz Ahmed, Lashkar-e-Taiba

October 2023

Dawood Malik, close associate of Masood Azhar

November 2023

Rahim Ullah Tariq, close associate of Masood Azhar

Akram Ghazi, Lashkar-e-Taiba

Khwaja Shahid, Lashkar-e-Taiba

December 2023

Adnan Ahmed, Lashkar-e-Taiba

February 2025

Maulana Kashif Ali, political wing of Lashkar-e-Taiba

March 2025

Faisal Nadeem alias Abu Kital, Lashkar-e-Taiba

Mufti Shah Mir, identified as an undercover ISI agent

Major Daniyal, ISPR officer

April 2025

Qari Ejaz Abid, close associate of Masood Azhar

May 18, 2025

Razaullah Nizami alias Saifullah Khalid, Lashkar-e-Taiba

May 19, 2025

Abdul Wahid Kumbho, Lashkar-e-Taiba