In the latest instance of mysterious killings involving jihadi terrorists in Pakistan, Shahid Latif, a member of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Sialkot, Pakistan. Latif, recognized as the mastermind behind the 2016 Pathankot terrorist attack and a key figure within JeM, was a wanted individual in India and the subject of a search by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a UAPA case.

According to intelligence sources, the attack on Latif took place in Sialkot. Local media reports indicated that the gunmen targeted Latif with point-blank precision, implying that individuals familiar with the local terrain were behind the attack. This raises the possibility that local terrorists were involved in the elimination of the JeM operative.

Shahid Latif had orchestrated several targeted attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, with one of his notable operations being the Pathankot attack on January 2, 2016. Operating from Sialkot, Latif played a pivotal role in facilitating the infiltration of terrorists into India, enabling them to carry out acts of terrorism.

Shahid Latif, a key operative associated with the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), was responsible for overseeing its primary command operations. He played a pivotal role in orchestrating various terrorist attacks against India, cementing his status as a wanted individual. The Indian government had declared him a proclaimed offender, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) actively pursuing him in a case filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Notably, the NIA had filed a chargesheet in the Pathankot terror case, identifying Shahid Latif as one of the four masterminds behind the attack. The investigation revealed that he had motivated and dispatched the four JeM terrorists involved in the Pathankot incident. From his base in Pakistan, Latif also coordinated their activities before and during the terror attack, according to the NIA.

Shahid Latif was previously arrested on terrorism-related charges in India in 1993. He stood trial and was imprisoned, but his release came in 2010 during the tenure of the Congress-led UPA government. This release marked a significant event, given Latif's subsequent involvement with militant activities in Pakistan.

Shahid Latif, who played a central role in the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, was among the 25 terrorists released by India in 2010. The release was part of the diplomatic efforts by the then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government to improve relations with Pakistan. These terrorists had served sentences in various Indian prisons and were deported to Pakistan via the Wagah border after their release.

Furthermore, Shahid Latif was previously sought for release by Jaish terrorists involved in the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in December 1999. The hijackers had demanded his freedom, among other individuals on their "wish list." However, the Vajpayee administration did not comply with this demand at the time.

Despite his prior incarceration and subsequent release by the UPA government as a goodwill gesture, Shahid Latif was killed by unidentified assailants in Sialkot, Pakistan. This development underscores the complex and long-standing issues related to terrorism and diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan.

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