Unknown Assailants Kill Hamza Burhan in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
Hamza Burhan, an alleged mastermind linked to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was reportedly shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to Indian media and security sources. Burhan, whose real name was Arjumand Gulzar Dar, sustained multiple bullet injuries during the attack and died on the spot.
Indian security agencies had identified Burhan as a key operative associated with the Pakistan-backed militant outfit Al-Badr. He was designated a terrorist under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2022 for his alleged role in radicalisation, recruitment, and logistics support connected to terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials claimed Burhan played a significant role in planning and facilitating the February 14, 2019 Pulwama attack, in which a suicide bomber targeted a CRPF convoy, killing more than 40 personnel. The attack, claimed by the Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammed, sharply escalated tensions between India and Pakistan and led to the Balakot airstrikes.
Reports suggest Burhan had been living in Muzaffarabad after escaping Indian security operations in Kashmir. The identity of the attackers remains unknown, and Pakistani authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the killing.
The incident adds to a growing series of mysterious killings of high-profile anti-India militant operatives in Pakistan and PoK over the past few years, many of whom were targeted by unknown gunmen under unexplained circumstances.
