Sheikh Yousaf Afridi, a prominent leader of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and a close associate of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, according to police sources.
Attack Details
A police source stated that unknown armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire on Afridi in Landi Kotal, located in the Khyber region, killing him instantly. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Afridi's Role in LeT
Afridi was considered a key figure within the regional structure of the banned LeT and was believed to have played a significant role in recruitment and coordination of the group's activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was regarded as a close aide of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Background and Reaction
An official from Saeed's banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) described Afridi as a renowned religious scholar belonging to the Zakhakhel tribe of Khyber. He was recognized as a prominent scholar of the Ahl-e-Hadith (Salafi) school of thought.
"He was targeted when unidentified attackers sprayed him with bullets and managed to flee the scene. It should be remembered that extremist groups like the Khawarij (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) are currently facing strong intellectual and practical challenges from Salafi scholars," the JuD official said.
The police source added, "The incident has sparked widespread anger in the area, and local authorities have launched an investigation to apprehend those responsible for his killing."
Recent Attacks on LeT Leaders
This killing comes just over a week after Amir Hamza, a founding leader of LeT, suffered bullet injuries in an attack in Lahore. Hamza is considered the second most important leader of the group after Hafiz Saeed, who has been imprisoned in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2019 after being convicted in terror financing cases.
