Islamabad:A commander of the terror groupLashkar-e-Taiba(LeT), Sheikh Yousuf Afridi, was shot dead by unknown assailants in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. According to preliminary reports, the gunmen fired multiple rounds at Afridi. The deceased was also considered a close associate of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed.

Pakistan authorities have launched a probe into Afridi’s killing. Police suspected it to be a targeted killing, reported NDTV.

Sheikh Yousuf Afridi was among the high-profile terrorists nurtured by Pakistan. He was a key member of the Pakistan-based terror organisation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and closely associated with the LeT founder. He was reportedly tasked with recruiting and training cadres in the region. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the killing.

LeT Co-Founder Attacked Earlier This Month:

Afridi’s killing was the latest in the series of attacks on terrorists in Pakistan. On April 16, Maulana Amir Hamza, a founding figure of the terror organisation was attacked by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan. Hamza was reportedly targeted when he was inside his vehicle. Hamza was rushed to a hospital. Reports indicate that he survived the attack.

Hamzahas long been regarded as one of the most influential ideologues within Pakistan’s jihadist ecosystem. A close associate of Hafiz Saeed, he played a pivotal role in building the ideological and propaganda architecture of LeT and its affiliated fronts. His prominence within these networks made him a high-value figure both operationally and symbolically. Hamza’s association with LeT dates back to the 1980s, when he was recruited by Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi during early efforts to build a jihadist cadre in Pakistan.

A Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar's elder brother, Muhammad Tahir Anwar died last month under mysterious circumstances. He had played a key role within the terror organisation.

In March last year, Abu Qatal, aka Qatal Sindhi, a top LeT terrorist, was also shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan's Jhelum district.

Sumit Sharma is a Deputy News Editor at Times Now with around a decade of experience across print, electronic, and digital media. Previously, he worke...View More

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