Unknown Gunmen Kill Al-Badr Commander in Muzaffarabad
Hamza Burhan, one of the alleged masterminds behind the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Burhan was a senior commander of the banned terror outfit Al-Badr and was also known by the alias “Doctor.”
According to local reports, armed assailants opened fire on Burhan before fleeing the scene. Security officials believe the killing is part of a growing series of mysterious targeted attacks against senior terror operatives in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
“Hamza Burhan played a crucial logistical role in supplying explosives and grenades used in the Pulwama attack,”
— Indian security agency sources
From Student to Militant Commander
A native of Kharbatpora in the Ratnipora area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, Hamza Burhan reportedly traveled to Pakistan in 2017 for higher studies. However, he later joined the banned terror organization Al-Badr and quickly rose through its ranks to become a commander.
After returning to Kashmir, Burhan allegedly began recruiting local youth into militancy. Investigators claim he expanded his network across South Kashmir, particularly from Pulwama to Shopian.
In 2022, the Government of India officially designated Hamza Burhan as a terrorist under anti-terror laws.
Key Role in the Pulwama Terror Attack
The Pulwama terror attack on February 14, 2019, remains one of the deadliest attacks on Indian security forces. A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of CRPF personnel near Lethpora in Pulwama district, killing 40 soldiers.
The Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack. Indian security agencies later alleged that Hamza Burhan was deeply involved in arranging explosives and logistical support for the attackers.
“He was instrumental in facilitating explosives and operational support for the Pulwama attackers,”
— Officials familiar with the investigation
Following the attack, India carried out airstrikes in Balakot, targeting what it described as terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan.
Linked to Multiple Terror Incidents
Investigators also linked Burhan to a grenade attack on CRPF personnel on November 18, 2020. Despite several attempts to capture him, he reportedly managed to escape to Pakistan.
Indian agencies had been tracking his activities for years due to his alleged involvement in militant recruitment and cross-border terror operations.
Series of Mysterious Killings in Pakistan
Burhan’s death comes amid a string of mysterious assassinations targeting senior figures associated with terror organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Recent incidents include:
- Last month, Lashkar-e-Taiba founding member Amir Hamza was reportedly shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Lahore.
- In March, Mohammad Tahir Anwar, the elder brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, died under mysterious circumstances.
- In 2024, LeT operative Abu Qatal was killed in Jhelum Sindh. He was accused of involvement in the Reasi terror attack that claimed nine lives.
Security Alert Intensified
Following Burhan’s killing, security has reportedly been tightened across Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and surrounding regions. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the assassination so far.
Security analysts say the continuing targeted killings of high-profile militants have raised concerns within terror networks operating from Pakistan and PoK.
