Pakistani Terrorist Linked to Pahalgam Massacre Faces Extradition with Non-Bailable Warrant

Pakistan-Based LeT Commander Wanted in Connection with Pahalgam Massacre

In a significant development, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Saifullah, a notorious Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, who has been linked to several high-profile terror attacks in the region.

Saifullah, a resident of Changa Manga village in Pakistan's Kasur, has been a key figure in the terror outfit's operations for over two decades. He has been using various aliases, including Sajid Jatt, Ali Bhai, Habibullah Malik, Langda, Noomi, Numan, Usman Habib, and Shani, to evade detection.

The NBW comes in the wake of a major breakthrough by the NIA, which had busted a deep-rooted LeT module earlier this year. The module was led by Pakistani terrorist Abdullah, alias Abu Hureira, who was arrested along with another Pakistani accomplice, Usman alias Khubaib, and three local operatives.

The investigation into the LeT module was triggered after Jammu and Kashmir Police intercepted a LeT operative in the Pandach area of Srinagar in March. This led to the successful arrest of Abdullah, who had been on the run for 16 years, and established the presence of the terror outfit outside the Union Territory.

The NIA, in its application to the special court, sought the NBW against Saifullah for his role in the terrorist module. The agency alleged that Saifullah, who is listed under the Fourth Schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has been operating from Pakistan and providing weapons, funds, and directions to terrorists in the Kashmir Valley.

The NIA also revealed that Telegraph IDs linked to Saifullah were recovered from one of the arrested Pakistani terrorists, indicating that he had provided directions for attacks on security forces, civilians, and government establishments.

After examining the application and accompanying material, the special court issued the NBW against Saifullah. The warrant has been sent for execution to the concerned authority through the NIA, with the last known address of the accused being village Yamrach in South Kashmir's Kulgam district.

Interestingly, Saifullah is also believed to have acted as a terrorist commander of LeT in Kulgam district between 2005 and 2007. He later exfiltrated to Pakistan, where he continued to play a key role in the terror outfit's operations.

The issuance of the NBW against Saifullah is a significant development in the fight against terrorism in the region. It highlights the NIA's efforts to track down and bring to justice those who are involved in perpetrating terror attacks in the country.

Key Takeaways

• A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against Pakistan-based LeT commander Saifullah, who has been linked to several high-profile terror attacks.
• Saifullah has been operating from Pakistan and providing weapons, funds, and directions to terrorists in the Kashmir Valley.
• The NIA had busted a deep-rooted LeT module earlier this year, led by Pakistani terrorist Abdullah, alias Abu Hureira, who was arrested along with three local operatives.
• Saifullah is listed under the Fourth Schedule of the UAPA and has been using various aliases to evade detection.