Another top Lashkar terrorist, Ismail Ahmad found dead in PoK on Operation Sindoor anniversary

Ismail Ahmad, a top Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) commander from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and a close associate of terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed, has been found dead under mysterious circumstances, sources confirmed on Friday. The killing marks the latest in a string of precise assassinations targeting LeT's core leadership this year, raising questions about internal rivalries or covert operations against the Pakistan-based terror group.

Ahmad, who served on LeT's core committee, was reportedly involved in plotting attacks against India, including operations aimed at Jammu and Kashmir. His death comes amid heightened scrutiny of the group's activities following India's repeated calls for action against Saeed-linked networks.

Pakistani authorities have not issued an official statement, but unconfirmed reports suggest Ahmad was discovered with gunshot wounds in a remote area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, echoing the modus operandi of recent hits.

The incident fits a disturbing pattern that has gripped LeT since early 2026. In April, Sheikh Yousuf Afridi, a key figure in the outfit's logistics and youth radicalization efforts, was ambushed and shot multiple times at close range in the same province.

Afridi played a crucial role in LeT's recruitment pipeline, radicalizing young men and coordinating supplies for attacks on Indian targets. Just weeks earlier, Amir Hamza, a Soviet-Afghan War veteran and US-designated global terrorist linked to the 2005 IISc Bengaluru attack, fell to motorcycle-borne gunmen outside a Lahore news channel office.

The violence peaked in March when Bilal Arif Sarafi, LeT's longtime fundraiser for its "Kashmir Jihad" since 2005, was shot and stabbed inside the group's Markaz Taiba headquarters in Muridke—right after Eid prayers. Sarafi, who identified recruits and funneled funds and weapons to operatives, was killed in a shocking breach of security, with speculation pointing to revenge by a disgruntled insider or family member.

These strikes have struck a body blow to LeT's command structure, with sources estimating that over a dozen senior figures have been eliminated or incapacitated in major cities like Lahore and Muridke. The attacks often involve "unknown gunmen" on motorcycles executing hits with military precision, leaving Pakistani law enforcement scrambling for leads.

The phenomenon dates back to 2023, when more than 30 terrorists affiliated with LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen met similar fates. Analysts point to possible internal power struggles within Pakistan's terror ecosystem or foreign intelligence involvement, though no group has claimed responsibility. "The tactical sophistication suggests more than random vendettas," a security expert told reporters, noting the consistent evasion of arrests.

India has long accused LeT of orchestrating cross-border terrorism, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks under Saeed's direction. New Delhi has pressed Islamabad to dismantle the group, but Pakistan maintains these are isolated incidents unrelated to state actors.