Shahid Latif, the alleged mastermind behind the Pathankot terror attack, one of India’s most-wanted terrorists, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Pakistan’s Sialkot on Wednesday.
The incident took place after the Fajr prayer when three armed gunmen, riding a motorcycle, opened fire on Latif and two of his associates near the Noor Madina Mosque in Daska, Punjab. Two of them succumbed to their injuries on the spot, while one sustained injuries.
Shahid Latif, aged 41, was a known member of the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). He was the key conspirator behind the Pathankot attack that occurred on January 2, 2016. He had purportedly orchestrated the attack from his base in Sialkot and dispatched four JeM terrorists to Pathankot for its execution.
It is worth noting that Latif had a history with the Indian authorities. He was arrested in India back in November 1994 on charges related to terrorism under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Subsequently, he faced a trial and was incarcerated. Latif spent a significant 16 years in Kot Balwal, Jammu jail, where he was detained alongside Masood Azhar.
Upon serving his sentence in India, he was deported to Pakistan through the Wagah border in 2010. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Shahid Latif returned to the alleged “Jihadi factory” in Pakistan following his release in 2010, and he had been on India’s list of wanted terrorists since. Latif was also accused of involvement in the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane in 1999, adding to his notoriety in the world of terrorism.
