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Al-Badr commander Arjumand Gulzar Dar, key planner of the 2019 Pulwama attack, was assassinated in Muzaffarabad, marking a significant strike against anti-India terror networks.
In a significant blow to anti-India terror networks, Arjumand Gulzar Dar, the 27-year-old mastermind of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, was killed by unknown gunmen in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) on Thursday. Known by aliases such as “Hamza Burhan” and “Doctor,” the Al-Badr commander was shot dead on the spot outside a school in Gojra, Muzaffarabad.
The incident unfolded when bike-borne men fired multiple rounds at Dar as he stood outside the premises. He suffered three fatal gunshots to the head. Locals quickly uploaded disturbing videos to social media, showing blood and brains spilled on the street, confirming his immediate demise. Dar had been living under the camouflage of being the “principal” of the higher secondary school AIMS in Gojra, a cover allegedly arranged by the ISI to facilitate his terror activities.
Prior to this assassination, Dar was in-charge of at least seven terror launchpads. His security detail typically consisted of men wielding AK-47s, yet they were unable to prevent the attack. Sources indicate that the killing might be the result of a local monetary feud, with hitmen familiar with the area’s topography carrying out the execution. This event represents the latest in a series of mysterious “drive-by-killings” targeting high-value terrorists on India’s wanted list who are sheltered in Pakistan and POK.
The 2019 attack orchestrated by Dar was a defining moment in recent history. Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Adeel Ahmed Dar rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a convoy of CRPF personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway at Lethpora in the Pulwama district. This act resulted in the deaths of 40 CRPF personnel and prompted major retaliatory strikes by India against terror establishments in Pakistan. Dar had facilitated the critical supply of explosives and grenades to the executioners and helped map the routes and date of the strike.
Arjumand Gulzar Dar was officially designated an individual terrorist under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the home ministry in April 2022. Investigators established his direct involvement in orchestrating the Pulwama attack, linking him to the logistical and tactical planning that led to the tragedy. His elimination marks the end of a high-profile terror career that deeply impacted the security dynamics of Jammu and Kashmir.
Born and raised in Pulwama’s Ratnipora area, Dar held an MBBS degree, which earned him the moniker “Doctor.” In 2017, he fled India for Pakistan under the pretext of pursuing higher studies. However, upon arrival, he actively joined the banned terror organization Al-Badr. His combination of formal medical education and tactical acumen allowed him to rapidly rise through the ranks to become a top commander within the group. Before operating from Pakistan and POK, he served as Al-Badr’s South Kashmir commander.
Indian intelligence and security agencies regarded Dar as a “master plotter,” noting his proficiency in modern weaponry and logistics. Beyond the Pulwama tragedy, he was heavily involved in sustaining the Kashmir Valley’s terror ecosystem. He coordinated funding, weapon smuggling, and explosive distribution networks through overground workers. One notable instance was his leadership of a grenade attack on a CRPF bunker in Pulwama in November 2020.
Furthermore, Dar was entrenched in the information warfare front. He frequently generated and circulated radical propaganda videos dating back to 2018, specifically aimed at brainwashing Kashmiri youth. His ability to blend into society using his fake identity as a school principal allowed him to operate for years before his eventual elimination. The killing of such a high-profile figure signals a shift in the operational security of terror cells in the region, as even those with deep cover are not immune to targeted violence.
The death of the key planner of the Pulwama attack underscores the fragility of the protection previously offered to high-value terror operatives in POK. The suspicion that a monetary dispute led to his killing suggests internal fractures within these networks. As India continues to track these individuals, the elimination of figures like Dar may disrupt funding and logistical chains, though it could also lead to retaliatory violence from desperate factions. The long-term impact will depend on whether this isolated incident leads to broader systemic changes in how these groups manage their leadership and resources.
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