Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Faisal Nadeem, alias Abu Qatal, mastermind of Rajouri attack, killed in Pakistan

With Abu Qatal’s death, a major blow has been dealt to the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s operational structure

March 16, 2025

Abu Qatal was close aide of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed

Faisal Nadeem, also known as Abu Qatal, a key operative of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and one of the organization’s most wanted terrorists, was killed in Pakistan on Saturday night, according to news report.

Abu Qatal’s role in terrorist activities

Abu Qatal was a close associate of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Alongside two other Pakistan-based LeT handlers, he was charge-sheeted by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the January 2023 Rajouri attacks.

The chargesheet was part of an ongoing effort by the NIA to dismantle terrorist networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The case, registered as RC-01 & 02/2023/NIA/JMU, was related to the terror attack in Dhangri, Rajouri, on January 1, 2023, followed by an IED blast the next day.

Impact of the Rajouri attacks

The attack resulted in the deaths of seven civilians, including two children, while several others sustained serious injuries.

LeT operatives involved

The NIA’s chargesheet identified three LeT handlers:

Abu Qatal (Faisal Nadeem)
Saifullah alias Sajid Jutt (who also went by multiple names, including Ali, Habibullah, and Nouman)
Mohd Qasim

While both Abu Qatal and Sajid Jutt were Pakistani nationals, Qasim had reportedly crossed into Pakistan around 2002 and later joined the LeT.

Terrorist operations and recruitment

Investigations revealed that the trio played a crucial role in recruiting and deploying LeT terrorists from Pakistan to target civilians, particularly from minority communities in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as security personnel. These attacks were executed under their direct instructions.

With Abu Qatal’s death, a major blow has been dealt to the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s operational structure.

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.