Hamza Burhan, a key Pulwama attack conspirator linked to Al Badr, was shot dead in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, amid a growing series of mysterious killings targeting terror operatives connected to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed networks operating against India.
Fresh tensions have emerged in the region after Hamza Burhan, an alleged operative linked to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to reports, Burhan was attacked at close range and sustained multiple gunshot wounds, leading to his death on the spot.
The killing has once again drawn attention to the increasing number of targeted attacks on terror operatives and commanders based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied territories. No organisation has claimed responsibility for the shooting so far, while Pakistani authorities have yet to issue any detailed statement regarding the incident or the investigation.
Hamza Burhan, also known by aliases including Doctor and Arjumand Gulzar Dar, had been identified by the Indian government as a key associate of the banned terror outfit Al Badr. In 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs designated him as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Officials had described him as a resident of Kharbatpora in Ratnipora area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir.
Security agencies had accused Burhan of playing a major role in radicalising youth in South Kashmir and recruiting individuals into terror organisations operating in the region. Intelligence reports suggested that he left India in 2017 under the pretext of pursuing higher education in Pakistan. However, he later joined Al Badr and rapidly rose within the organisation’s ranks.
After undergoing ideological indoctrination and training, Burhan allegedly returned to Kashmir and expanded his influence across Pulwama and Shopian districts. Indian agencies maintained that he became deeply involved in building recruitment networks and coordinating activities aimed at strengthening Pakistan-backed terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials believe his death could significantly weaken certain terror modules operating in South Kashmir. Security experts have also noted that repeated eliminations of senior commanders and handlers in Pakistan have adversely affected the operational capabilities of terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The killing of Burhan adds to a growing list of mysterious attacks on terror-linked individuals inside Pakistan over the past two years. In May this year, Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Farman Ali was reportedly shot dead in Muridke. Earlier in April, Sheikh Yousuf Afridi, another Lashkar commander based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was killed by unidentified assailants.
During the same month, Lashkar-e-Taiba co-founder Amir Hamza survived an assassination attempt in Lahore after being attacked by unknown gunmen. In January, Pakistani Army Lieutenant Colonel Imran Dayal, who was allegedly linked to terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir, was gunned down in Dera Ismail Khan.
Another Jaish-e-Mohammed operative, Mushtaq alias Ghazi Baba, was also reportedly killed near Peshawar in October 2025. Last year, Lashkar commander Razaullah Nizamani alias Abu Saifullah Khalid was shot dead in Sindh province. Despite the frequency of these incidents, Pakistani authorities have not released conclusive findings regarding the identities or motives of the attackers.
Indian security agencies have repeatedly argued that these developments have disrupted recruitment and logistical support systems for Pakistan-based terror outfits. According to intelligence assessments, morale within these organisations has declined sharply, especially after intensified counter-terror operations and crackdowns following Operation Sindoor.
The Pulwama terror attack remains one of the deadliest assaults on Indian security forces in recent history. On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a convoy of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Lethapora in Pulwama district.
The blast killed 40 CRPF personnel and triggered nationwide outrage across India. The Pakistan-based terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack, while the suicide bomber was identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, a local recruit from Kashmir.
In response to the Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility in Balakot, Pakistan, marking a major escalation in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
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With Hamza Burhan now dead, analysts believe Pakistan-backed terror networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir may face further internal disruptions and leadership challenges. However, security experts caution that the broader threat of cross-border terrorism in the region continues to remain a serious concern for Indian agencies.
