From IC-814 hijacker to LeT leaders: How terrorists are being eliminated by ‘unknown gunmen’ in Pakistan
April 16, 2026
In most cases, local reports have attributed the attacks to “unidentified gunmen” or described them as occurring under unclear or suspicious circumstances.
A string of targeted killings across Pakistan has resulted in the elimination of numerous high-profile terrorists, including a hijacker of the 1999 Indian Airlines flight IC-814 and key leaders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group. The consistent pattern of these assassinations, carried out by what are frequently described as "unknown gunmen" on motorcycles, has fueled widespread speculation and heightened tensions in the region. Since 2022, over 20 terrorists wanted by India have been killed on Pakistani soil under mysterious circumstances. While Pakistan has remained largely silent or attributed the killings to internal rivalries or hostile foreign agencies, the incidents have spotlighted the precarious existence of militants who once operated with perceived impunity.
One of the most notable figures eliminated was Zahoor Mistry, one of the five Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists who hijacked flight IC-814. Mistry, who had been living under the alias Zahid Akhund in Karachi, was shot and killed in March 2022. He was reportedly the individual who fatally stabbed passenger Rupin Katyal during the week-long hostage crisis that ended with India releasing three senior terrorists, including Maulana Masood Azhar. The methodical nature of Mistry's killing, involving assailants on a motorcycle who shot him at point-blank range, has been a recurring feature in subsequent eliminations of other militants.
The trend has significantly impacted the leadership and operational capabilities of anti-India terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Numerous key figures from these groups have been systematically targeted. Those killed include senior LeT commanders like Akram Khan Ghazi, a key recruiter, who was gunned down in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in November 2023. Others, such as Khwaja Shahid, a mastermind of the 2018 Sunjuwan army camp attack, and Riyaz Ahmad, a primary conspirator behind the Dhangri terror attack, have also been killed by unidentified assailants. These killings have occurred in various locations across Pakistan, from Karachi and Lahore to the region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The Pakistani government has officially launched investigations into these murders but has rarely disclosed its findings. The killings place Islamabad in a difficult position, implicitly confirming the long-denied presence of these terrorists on its soil. In response to international reports suggesting Indian involvement, India's Ministry of External Affairs has consistently dismissed the allegations as "false and malicious anti-India propaganda." Despite these denials, some analysts suggest the events have bolstered the perception of a more assertive Indian security policy aimed at eliminating threats beyond its borders.
The implications of this ongoing shadow war are multifaceted. For the terror groups, the loss of experienced leaders and recruiters creates a significant vacuum and instills a climate of fear, disrupting their networks and fundraising activities. For the India-Pakistan relationship, it adds another layer of complexity and mistrust. While the "unknown gunmen" remain officially unidentified, the systematic elimination of individuals on India's most-wanted list suggests a coordinated and sustained campaign, the future course and ultimate orchestrators of which remain a subject of intense international scrutiny.
Source: moneycontrol