New Delhi, March 16, 2025 – Zia-ur-Rehman, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander wanted for multiple deadly terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, was shot dead by gunmen in Pakistan’s Jhelum area on Saturday evening, officials confirmed on Sunday. Rehman’s security guard was also killed in the attack.
Key Handler of Major Terror Attacks
Rehman, 43, was considered the most trusted handler of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He was responsible for planning multiple attacks in the Poonch-Rajouri region of Jammu and Kashmir. Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) linked him to the Dhangri village attack in Rajouri in January 2023, which left seven civilians dead and 14 injured. He was charge-sheeted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for this incident.
Mastermind of High-Profile Attacks
Officials also identified Rehman as the mastermind behind the Reasi Bus Attack on June 9, 2024, where nine pilgrims were killed and 41 injured. He was involved in the Bhatta-Durian terror ambush in April 2023 that killed five Army personnel and the Kandi attack in May 2023, which claimed the lives of five members of the 9 Para Special Forces.
Trusted Link to LeT Operations
Born on February 4, 1982, in Sindh, Pakistan, Rehman was in charge of LeT’s Khuiratta dets in Kotli district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He managed infiltration routes and maintained operational control between LeT cadres in PoK and Sindh. Rehman’s close ties with Saeed gave him significant influence within LeT’s structure.
Series of Targeted Killings
Rehman’s death follows the killings of his associates, Riyaz Ahmed (Abu Qasim) and Hanzla Adnan, in Pakistan in September and December 2023. Over a dozen commanders from LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Hizbul Mujahideen have been killed by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan and PoK over the last three years.
