Retired Brigadier Amir Hamza, a prominent figure within Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, was assassinated on Monday in a targeted attack in Jhelum district, Punjab province. Hamza, who was known for his involvement in ISI operations against India, was ambushed by four unidentified gunmen while traveling with his wife and daughter.
The attack occurred at the Lilla interchange, where the assailants, riding on two motorcycles, cornered Hamza's vehicle and opened fire. Hamza was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife and daughter sustained injuries. According to local police, the attackers did not steal any belongings, suggesting a motive of targeted killing rather than robbery.
Hamza had a notable history within the ISI, allegedly playing a key role in the 2018 attack on the Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir, India, which resulted in the deaths of six Indian soldiers. He is the second individual linked to the Sunjwan attack to be killed, following the death of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Khwaja Shahid last November.
This incident is the latest in a string of targeted killings of Pakistani individuals associated with the ISI and implicated in attacks against India. In April, Amir Sarfaraz, another high-ranking ISI operative, was killed in Lahore under similar circumstances. Additionally, Adnan Ahmed, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, and Shahid Latif, a Jaish-e-Muhammed terrorist linked to the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, were also killed in targeted attacks last year.
Pakistani authorities have launched an investigation into the killing of Hamza, categorizing it as a "blind murder case." However, the recurring pattern of targeted killings of ISI operatives raises questions about the internal security situation within Pakistan and the potential for factional conflicts within the intelligence community.
No comments:
Post a Comment