Mastermind of Jaffar Express attack killed in Afghanistan, Pakistani sources claim

Gul Rehman, also known as Ustad Mureed, a senior commander of the militant group Fitna al-Hindustan, has been killed in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, according to security sources and regional media reports.

Rehman, described as a trainer and operational leader of the group’s Majeed Brigade, was reportedly killed on September 17 under unclear circumstances.

He is accused of masterminding several high-profile terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including the assault on the Jaffar Express train.

Security sources said Rehman also directed operations against security forces, Chinese nationals, civilians, and infrastructure projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Attacks attributed to Fitna al-Hindustan include the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar, the Khuzdar school bus bombing, the Pakistan Stock Exchange assault, and the Quetta railway station blast.

Officials in Islamabad have long maintained that Afghan soil is being used by militants to stage cross-border attacks.

However Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) officials have repeatedly rejected such claims and have said on multiple occassions that no group or individual will be allowed to threaten another country from Afghan soil.

The United States has already designated the Majeed Brigade as a global terrorist organization while Pakistan and China have jointly urged the United Nations to add the group to its official list of banned terrorist outfits.