LAHORE: Amir Hamza, a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) ideologue and co-founder of the terror group, has been admitted to a military hospital in Lahore under tight ISI protection following what sources describe as a “critical injury” sustained at his residence. The circumstances surrounding the 66-year-old’s sudden hospitalization remain unclear, adding to growing speculation within intelligence circles.
Hamza’s hospitalization comes just days after the targeted killing of Abu Saifullah, a top LeT recruiter and operative, who was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Pakistan. The back-to-back incidents have sent shockwaves through pro-Lashkar online communities. On Tuesday evening, several Telegram channels linked to LeT sympathizers described Hamza’s condition as part of an “accident” while calling on members to remain resilient amid the “crisis.”
Originally from Gujranwala in Punjab province, Hamza has long held a key role within LeT’s propaganda machinery. In August 2012, he was designated a global terrorist by the United States. Known as a close confidant of LeT chief Hafiz Saeed and deputy Abdul Rehman Makki—both UN-sanctioned terrorists—Hamza was a core member of the group’s central committee and an influential ideologue with a history of operational involvement.
In the early 2000s, before transitioning to LeT’s media and propaganda wing, Hamza was actively engaged in terrorist activities. He and Abu Saifullah were allegedly involved in planning the 2005 attack on the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. Afterward, Hamza was reassigned from violent operations to oversee Lashkar’s propaganda division.
“He headed the publication wing of LeT and authored several key jihadi texts, including Qafila Da’wat aur Shahadat (Caravan of Proselytizing and Martyrdom) and Shahrah-e-Bahisht (The Road to Paradise),” a source said.
In 2018, amid increasing pressure on Lashkar and its front Jamat-ud-Dawah, Hamza was tasked by Hafiz Saeed with founding a new entity, Jaish-e-Manqafa. Though initially interpreted as a sign of internal rift within Lashkar’s hierarchy, the formation of the new outfit was later seen as a tactical move to evade international scrutiny.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Hamza has served as a liaison between Lashkar and other extremist groups, operating directly under the command of Saeed. He also led LeT-affiliated charities and managed a university trust linked to the group. His media role included editing the weekly LeT newspaper and contributing to its various publications.
“Hamza was among a trio of senior Lashkar figures appointed to negotiate the release of detained LeT members,” the Treasury’s profile notes. “He also headed the organization’s ‘special campaigns’ department.”
As officials await further clarity on the nature of Hamza’s injuries, security agencies continue to monitor potential implications for Lashkar’s internal dynamics and regional terror activity.
