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Hafiz Saeed's Close Aide Sheikh Yousaf Afridi Shot Dead in Pakistan

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Sheikh Yousaf Afridi, a close aide of Hafiz Saeed and a key figure in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was shot dead in Pakistan in a targeted killing. Hafiz Saeed is the founder of LeT and the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks (26/11). He was convicted by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court in 2020 on terror financing charges. Afridi's killing highlights the continuing threat of terror networks operating in Pakistan.

Key Facts & Details

10 points
  • 1
    Sheikh Yousaf Afridi — key LeT figure and Hafiz Saeed's aide — killed in Pakistan
  • 2
    Hafiz Saeed is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba
  • 3
    Saeed is the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks
  • 4
    Saeed was convicted by Pakistan anti-terrorism court in 2020
  • 5
    LeT is a UN-designated terrorist organisation
  • 6
    India has demanded Pakistan take action against terror groups operating from its soil

Deep Dive

  • +
    The 26/11 Mumbai attacks in November 2008 killed 166 people including 28 foreigners
  • +
    Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist captured alive in 26/11; executed in 2012
  • +
    Hafiz Saeed also founded Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), considered a front for LeT
  • +
    Pakistan was placed on FATF grey list partly due to inadequate action against terror financing
Q

Exam Focus

Likely MCQ: Who is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba? Answer: Hafiz Saeed

Related Topics

Cross-border terrorismLeTHafiz SaeedIndia-Pakistan

Exam Relevance & Angle

Defence, International Relations: Cross-border terrorism, LeT, and India-Pakistan security issues are critical UPSC and SSC topics.

Target Exams

UPSC CSESSC CGLState PCSIBPS POSBI PO

Background & Context

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is a Pakistan-based militant organisation founded in 1987 by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. It carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people and wounded over 300.

Hafiz Saeed was declared a global terrorist by the UN in 2008 and the US placed a $10 million bounty on his head. Pakistan convicted him in 2020 on terror financing charges after intense international pressure.

Related GK Concepts

Must Know
Lashkar-e-TaibaHafiz Saeed26/11 Mumbai attacksFATFCross-border terrorism

Test Yourself

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Who is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)?

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SSC CGL

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Hafiz Saeed's Close Aide Sheikh Yousaf Afridi Shot Dead in Pakistan — Current Affairs 2026-04-29