Amir Hamza, a founding member of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was shot by unidentified attackers in Lahore and is currently in critical condition at a hospital. The incident occurred outside a news channel office in the city. This is the second attempt on his life within a year, following a similar attack near his home in May last year. After that incident, his security was reportedly strengthened, though officials did not make any public statements.

Born on May 10, 1959, in Gujranwala, Punjab, Hamza is a veteran of the Afghan jihad and co-founded LeT with Hafiz Saeed in the mid-1980s. Over the years, he has been associated with several terrorist activities in India and beyond, including the 2005 attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore—one of LeT’s earliest major operations outside Kashmir.

Considered the second most influential figure in the group after Saeed, Hamza has held multiple leadership roles and significantly contributed to its propaganda and outreach strategies. The US Department of the Treasury has designated him as a global terrorist, noting in 2012 that he was part of LeT’s central advisory council and managed its external relations under Saeed.

By 2010, he was also involved with LeT-linked charitable organizations and held a senior role in a university trust overseen by Saeed. Known for his strong oratory and writing, Hamza edited the group’s weekly publication, wrote articles, and authored several books, including one published in 2022. He also led the group’s “special campaigns” division, focusing on outreach and mobilization.

In 2010, he was among senior leaders who negotiated the release of detained LeT members. However, in 2018, he distanced himself from the group amid international pressure on its financial networks. He later formed a splinter group called Jaish-e-Manqafa, which has reportedly engaged in limited propaganda and fundraising, particularly related to Kashmir. Despite the split, Hamza continues to be listed as a global terrorist by the US Treasury, which considers him a significant figure in LeT’s long-standing efforts in recruitment, radicalization, and funding.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.