LeT operative dies outside Islamabad mosque; ‘unknown gunmen’ claims add to mystery

Islamabad: A senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative identified as Qari Saeed Abdul Aziz has died after collapsing outside a mosque in Islamabad, adding to a series of recent reports involving deaths of Pakistan-based militants under unclear circumstances.

Aziz had eaten at a restaurant before going to Quba Mosque for prayers on Saturday. He collapsed near the mosque entrance and died. The exact cause of death has not been officially established.

Reports have linked Aziz to the LeT's network that provided financial assistance to the families of militants killed during encounters in Jammu and Kashmir. He has also been described as a senior operative involved in the group's communications and other activities.

LeT operative claims dozens of members killed

Aziz's reported death comes days after a video surfaced featuring Rizwan Hanif, identified as an LeT operative.

In the video, Hanif claimed that 30 to 40 members of the organisation had been killed by "unknown gunmen" over the past three to four years. He named locations including Rawalakot, Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Hanif alleged that Indian agencies were responsible for the killings. The allegation has not been independently established, and there has been no official confirmation identifying those responsible.

The reported video has nevertheless drawn attention because of its claims about targeted killings within the militant network.

What is known about Aziz's death?

Details surrounding Aziz's death remain limited. Reports say he fell ill and collapsed at the entrance of Quba Mosque after eating at a restaurant.

There is currently no confirmed evidence establishing whether the death was caused by a medical condition, poisoning or any deliberate attack.

His death therefore cannot, at this stage, be conclusively linked to the other reported killings of LeT members.

LeT's history of attacks

Lashkar-e-Taiba is a Pakistan-based militant organisation that has been linked to several attacks against India, including the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in which 166 people were killed.

The group has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations and several countries. Pakistan has also officially banned LeT.

The latest reports about Aziz's death and the claims of killings of other LeT members have renewed attention on the activities of the organisation and the unexplained deaths of some of its operatives.

However, responsibility for the reported killings remains unconfirmed, while the circumstances of Aziz's death are yet to be established.