Islamabad, Pakistan – Mufti Shah Mir, a Pakistani operative accused of aiding the ISI in the abduction of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav from Iran, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Balochistan on Friday night, according to reports.
Mir, known for his ties to terrorist networks and infiltration operations, was ambushed while leaving a mosque in Turbat after offering prayers. Gunmen fired multiple rounds at point-blank range, fatally wounding him. He succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, Dawn reported.
A Key Figure in Kulbhushan Jadhav’s Abduction
Mufti Shah Mir was reportedly involved in human and arms trafficking and played a crucial role in the 2016 capture of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian citizen and former Navy officer. Jadhav was allegedly abducted from the Iran-Pakistan border on March 3, 2016, by a group led by Jaish al-Adl’s Mullah Omar Irani and subsequently handed over to Pakistani intelligence agencies through intermediaries, including Mir.
Pakistan claimed that Jadhav was a spy for India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and accused him of espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan. On April 10, 2017, a Pakistani military court sentenced Jadhav to death, triggering a diplomatic standoff between India and Pakistan.
International Legal Battle and India's Intervention
India strongly opposed the verdict and took the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which intervened and stayed Jadhav’s execution. The ICJ ruled that Pakistan had violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by denying India access to Jadhav and ordered Pakistan to grant consular access.
On July 17, 2019, the ICJ directed Pakistan to review Jadhav’s death sentence and ensure fair legal proceedings. The case has since remained a contentious issue in international diplomatic circles, with India continuing to push for his release. In May 2022, Pakistan allowed India to present its position on Jadhav’s case, but the matter remains unresolved.
Mir’s Role in Terror Operations and His Assassination
Mufti Shah Mir was a key operative with deep links to terrorist networks. He was a member of the fundamentalist group Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and maintained close ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Reports suggest that he frequently visited terrorist training camps across Pakistan and actively assisted infiltration attempts along the Indian border.
While no group has claimed responsibility for Mir’s killing, intelligence sources indicate that similar targeted assassinations of militant figures have been increasing in Pakistan. Mir had previously survived two assassination attempts, underscoring the high-risk nature of his activities.
His death raises further questions about internal conflicts within Pakistan’s intelligence and militant networks, as well as the ongoing power struggles that continue to shape the volatile security landscape of the region.
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