Lieutenant Colonel Imran Dayal of the Pakistan Army was killed in a shooting carried out by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to reports. Security sources and media accounts suggest that Dayal was allegedly a key mastermind linked to the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Local media reported that the attack occurred late Saturday night when Dayal’s vehicle was targeted while he was traveling. The car was later found heavily damaged, and multiple bullet casings were reportedly recovered from the scene. The attackers fled immediately after the incident, prompting Pakistani security forces to launch a large-scale search operation in the area.
Dayal was an active military officer, and allegations about his suspected connections with militant networks have sparked significant discussion. Earlier assessments by Indian security agencies had indicated that he may have played a role in planning and supporting the Pahalgam attack.
Security has been tightened across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the incident. While Pakistani authorities have yet to issue a detailed official statement, officials confirmed that an investigation is underway. The development has once again drawn attention to concerns over militancy and related networks at the international level.
Observers note that Dayal’s killing could further complicate the security environment in South Asia, particularly amid ongoing regional tensions following the Pahalgam attack.
