International
oi-Prakash KL
Amir Hamza, a founding member of the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is in a critical condition after being shot by unknown assailants in Lahore, according to reports in the Indian media.
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on Hamza outside the offices of a news channel in the city, leaving him with severe injuries. He was rushed to hospital, where his condition is said to be extremely critical.
Amir Hamza, a founding member and key ideologue of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group, was critically injured from gunshots by unknown assailants in Lahore in 2025. Hamza is designated a global terrorist by the US Treasury for his leadership role within LeT.
While speculations were doing rounds that he is dead, it is not confirmed.
Who is terrorist Amir Hamza?
Amir Hamza is a founding leader and one of the top ideologues of the Pakistan‑based Islamist militant group Lashkar‑e‑Taiba (LeT). He is widely described as the second‑most important figure in LeT after Hafiz Saeed, and is known for his role in shaping the group’s extremist ideology and propaganda.
Born on 10 May 1959 in Gujranwala, Punjab province of Pakistan, Hamza is often referred to as an “Afghan mujahideen” veteran due to his participation in the Afghan jihad.
He sits on LeT’s central advisory or central committee and has long headed its propaganda wing, including editing its official publications such as Majallah al‑Daawa and the weekly newspaper, which spread jihadist rhetoric.
Terror designations and activities
The U.S. Treasury has designated Amir Hamza as a global terrorist for his leadership in LeT, including fundraising, recruitment, and maintaining ties with other militant outfits.
He is believed to have been involved in planning or supporting attacks such as the 2005 blast at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, one of the first major LeT strikes outside Kashmir.
Later years and splinter group
Around 2018, under pressure from international sanctions on LeT fronts like Jamaat‑ud‑Dawah and Falah‑e‑Insaniat Foundation, Hamza was positioned to form a splinter outfit called Jaish‑e‑Manqafa while still maintaining close links to the LeT leadership.
In 2025 he was reported to have been critically injured and hospitalised in Lahore under heavy security cover, amid speculation about internal tensions and security threats within LeT’s network.
