In a surprising turn of events, Shahid Latif, the mastermind behind the infamous Pathankot attack and a notorious terrorist of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM), was shot and killed by unknown assailants in Sialkot’s Daska situated Jama Masjid in Pakistan.
Hailing from Gujranwala, Shahid Latif was the JEM commander in Shialkot sector and was responsible for planning attacks and launching terrorists in India. He had a dark reputation, orchestrating attacks that caused significant harm.
Early one morning, Shahid Latif and his companion, Hashim, were inside a mosque to offer their morning prayers, a routine seemingly at odds with their other lives. This incident is eerily reminiscent of recent attacks on terrorists in Pakistan. Since past few weeks, many terrorists have been killed in Pakistan by the unknown assassins.
Latif spent 16 years in Indian jail
Latif had a long history of involvement in terror activities but his involvement in the 2016 Pathankot attack proved his notoriety as never before. The assault on the Pathankot Air Force Station in India not only claimed lives but also strained relations between India and Pakistan.
Nevertheless, the terrorist that has devastated uncountable number of lives has met his fate. Shahid Latif’s life was marked by controversy and crime. In 1994, Indian authorities arrested him, leading to a 16-year confinement in India. He was deported in 2010 via the Wagah border crossing.
Accordingly, the Indian government labeled him a terrorist, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) pursued a case against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The identity of Latif’s attackers remains a mystery. The terrorist patron and the hub of terror industry, Pakistan is now working to uncover the truth and understand the motives behind this incident.