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The recent passing of Azam Cheema, the intelligence chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), due to a heart attack in Faisalabad has ignited widespread speculation within Pakistan’s jihadi circles. His demise comes amid a series of mysterious deaths of several LeT members in recent months, raising questions and suspicions.
Pakistan has alleged that Indian agencies are behind these killings, an accusation firmly refuted by India. Despite New Delhi’s denial of maintaining any ‘killing list,’ Cheema’s prominence within the ranks of LeT suggests that, if such a list did exist, he would likely have been a top target alongside figures like JUD chief Hafiz Saeed and JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar.
Cheema played a pivotal role in planning notorious terror attacks, including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings, along with numerous other incidents in India. His death serves as a stark reminder to Indian agencies of the presence of recognized terrorists operating from Pakistani soil, despite Islamabad’s repeated denials.
Described as a hard-to-find LeT operative who spoke Punjabi, sported a beard, and possessed a robust physical build, Cheema resided in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, during the early 2000s with his wife and two children. His expertise in reading maps, particularly those of India, earned him recognition, having served in the Afghan war.
In 2008, Cheema held the position of LeT commander for Bahawalpur, where he served as an operations advisor to senior figure Zaki-Ur-Rehman Lakhvi. He actively participated in planning, executing, and training recruits for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The US Department of Treasury identifies him as a ‘key commander’ in LeT’s operations, highlighting its connections to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network.
LeT was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US in December 2001 and by the UN Committee in May 2005, underscoring the international recognition of its nefarious activities. Cheema’s death raises questions about the future trajectory of LeT’s operations and the ongoing struggle against terrorism in the region.
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