Pathankot attack mastermind shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan

The mastermind of 2016 Pathankot attack was on Wednesday shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan’s Sialkot. India had designated Shahid Latif as one of the most-wanted terrorist.

Latif, a member of the proscribed terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), was killed near Masjid Al-Noor Medina in Mundeyki Chowk near Daska town in Sialkot.

He is said to be the one who orchestrated the Pathankot attack, which saw JeM terrorists infiltrate into the Air Force base to launch a deadly attack. 

The Indian forces who, backed by tanks and helicopters, battled for more than 15 hours before they wrested back control of the compound.

Latif was arrested in India in November 1994 on terror charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He served his sentence before being deported to Pakistan via Wagah in 2010.

He was also an accused in the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane in 1999.