Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan: In a shocking development, Sajid Mir, one of the masterminds behind the notorious 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, has reportedly succumbed to the poisoning attempt made at him around December 4. Multiple credible sources on the ground indicate that the wanted terrorist did not survive even after getting top treatment at the CMH Institute of Medical Sciences in Bahawalpur, where he was airlifted to and transferred by the Pakistan Army itself.
He was reportedly poisoned inside the Central Jail in Dera Ghazi Khan, according to unconfirmed sources. The unverified reports suggest that Mir was airlifted by the Pakistan Army to the CMH Institute of Medical Sciences in Bahawalpur after the poisoning incident.
Mir, who had been transferred from Lahore Central Jail a few months ago, was said to be in critical condition on ventilator support at the medical facility. The unsubstantiated nature of the reports raised uncertainty about the accuracy of the information at that time, but now fresh reports from multiple sources are indicating that it is highly likely that Mir was poisoned in jail by the chef and has died after being on the ventilator for several days.
Mir’s poisoning incident is set against the backdrop of a trend where several prominent terrorists, both in Pakistan and abroad, perceived as hostile to India’s interests, have met their demise under mysterious circumstances or at the hands of unknown entities.
Several prominent defence analysts have suggested that it is highly likely that the frail condition of the Pakistani economy and the constant pressure the Pakistani ISI is under are the reasons why the ISI has been slowly moving towards “disposing off” its own former Jihadi assets.
Earlier last year, the anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced Mir to a 15-year jail term in a terror financing case. However, some geopolitical analysts speculated that the move might have been a strategic manoeuvre by Islamabad to appease the global terror financing watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and alleviate pressure on the country’s economy. Pakistan was placed on FATF’s grey list, impacting its economic standing.
Sajid Mir, believed to be in his mid-40s, was the chief commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He played a crucial role in planning the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks alongside Hafiz Saeed, resulting in the tragic deaths of 175 people, including six Americans and other foreigners. The United States had placed a $5 million bounty on Mir’s head, indicting him in the US District Court in Chicago in 2011 on charges of conspiracy, supporting terrorists, and involvement in the bombing of public places.
Earlier this year, India accused China of prioritising “petty geopolitical interests” after Beijing blocked a joint proposal by New Delhi and Washington to designate Mir as a global terrorist. The proposal, if adopted, would have subjected Mir to an asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo. The rejection sparked criticism from Indian officials, questioning the global community’s commitment to combating terrorism.
As the details surrounding Sajid Mir’s poisoning and resulting death remain under wraps, it adds another layer of complexity to the already contentious narrative surrounding his involvement in one of the most heinous terrorist attacks in history.
