Unidentified gunmen in Pakistan have carried out targeted killings of a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and a low-level official linked to the ISI. The victims, Mir Shukr Khan Raisani and Mohammad Iqbal, were identified as the casualties. Raisani, a key LeT commander, was assassinated in Quetta, Balochistan, shortly after attending a significant LeT event. He played a crucial role in LeT operations in Balochistan and was previously involved in recruitment and training activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The killing of Mohammad Iqbal, another victim, has drawn particular attention from Indian agencies. Iqbal was gunned down in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). His affiliation with the Islamic State in KP and Afghanistan has raised concerns. Originally from Kurram Agency, now Kurram District, Iqbal’s death led to the discovery of incriminating documents linking him and other ISI officials to the Islamic State.
The recovered documents have contradicted Pakistan’s denial of supporting the Islamic State, indicating a hidden connection. An Intelligence Bureau official revealed that Pakistan has allegedly fostered the Islamic State to counter the Afghan Taliban, forming alliances for strategic purposes. With escalating challenges in KP and Balochistan, Pakistan allegedly struck a deal with the Islamic State to combat the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) alongside LeT fighters.
Reports suggest that the ISI has been training hundreds of Islamic State recruits in KP, deploying some to fight domestic insurgencies while dispatching others to Afghanistan against the Taliban. The recent killings by unknown assailants have intensified Pakistan’s security concerns, exposing alleged ties with terror groups. The LeT, recovering from setbacks, faces difficulties in leadership retention as top officials and founding members are targeted in the spate of attacks.
