Reports claim that the leader of the political wing of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Maulana Kashif Ali, was killed in a shooting on Monday at his home in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Ali, a critical figure in LeT, had headed its political branch, the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a party established by the group’s leader, Hafiz Saeed, in 2024.

The killing took place when unidentified gunmen attacked Ali's home, with footage from the scene showing police and emergency personnel outside the house. Ali was also Hafiz Saeed's brother-in-law. Hafiz Saeed is in India’s most wanted terrorist list. Ali had been a compelling figure in Lashkar’s political operations in Pakistan.

The reason behind the attack is still vague, and no group has taken accountability for the assassination. Local authorities are investigating, with some suspecting that it might be related to inner conflicts within the group or a targeted strike by rival militants.

Maulana Kashif Ali had played a key role in advancing Lashkar's political goals through the PMML, which sought to legitimise the group’s influence in Pakistani politics. His death is a significant setback to the group's political wing, which has been active in Pakistan since its inception.

Lashkar-e-Taiba is the group that is behind major terrorist attacks including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Lashkar-e-Taiba is recognised as a terrorist organisation by India, the United States, and other nations. Still, Pakistani authorities have not yet issued any official remarks regarding the assassination.

The murder of Maulana Kashif Ali has sparked a tremendous outcry in Pakistan, with terrorist groups linked to LeT criticising the Pakistani government and demanding the swift arrest of his assassins, who are still at large.

In the last month, three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists were killed, two of them in a road accident. As of now, the Pakistani government has not responded, while terrorist groups continue to pressure authorities for action.