19/05/2025
The Killing of Saifullah: Terrorism, Nepal’s Weaknesses, and Pakistan’s Strategic Cleansing
India’s Enemy Hidden in Nepal: The Mysterious Death of Lashkar Commander Saifullah in Sindh, Pakistan
By: Ravindra Arya
Introduction: The Mysterious Death of a Terrorist
The recent killing of the notorious Lashkar-e-Taiba operational commander Saifullah Khalid in Pakistan’s Badin district in Sindh might appear to be a regular case of “gang violence,” but in reality, it exposes a concealed layer of South Asia’s terror infrastructure. This is the same terrorist who orchestrated attacks on India and remained hidden for decades under the cover of Nepal.
The Shadow of Terror in India
Saifullah Khalid was counted among those terrorists who masterminded multiple attacks on Indian soil. The 2006 plot to attack the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, the assault on the CRPF camp in Rampur, and the plan to attack IISc in Bengaluru were all linked to his network. His operations kept Indian security agencies on high alert for years.
Nepal: The Land of Illusory Peace
After fleeing India, Saifullah arrived in Nepal, where he forged a fake identity under the name “Vinod Kumar.” There, he married a Nepali woman named Jamuna Khadka, who later converted to Islam and adopted the name Ayesha Khalid. This marriage was not merely familial, but strategic—aimed at establishing permanent roots in Nepal and smoothly operating his terror network.
Nepal’s lax security apparatus, its open border with India, and political leniency allowed Saifullah to remain hidden and continue plotting anti-India operations for years. His Nepali connections not only shielded his identity but also helped him build a local radical network. It is also reported that during his time in Nepal, Saifullah assisted other terrorists in securing shelter and forging new identities.
Pakistan’s Strategy: From Protection to Purging
Saifullah eventually returned to Pakistan, where he enjoyed the protection of the ISI and Lashkar. For years, Pakistan has sheltered and trained such terrorists. But when international pressure increases—particularly from the FATF and Western countries—Pakistan resorts to eliminating its own assets as part of a broader strategy to appear clean.
His killing in Badin appears to be one such case of strategic cleansing—eliminating him to distance the state from allegations of terrorism and show symbolic compliance to the world.
The Funeral: A Political Statement
What followed his killing was even more shocking. Lashkar-e-Taiba’s senior leader Hafiz Abdur Rauf personally attended Saifullah’s funeral and led the namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayer). This indicates that Pakistan’s terror infrastructure continues to honor its slain operatives as “martyrs”—even when officially distancing itself from them. This double standard exposes the true nature of Pakistan’s policy on terrorism.
A Warning for the Future
Saifullah’s death may be a relief for India, but it is merely a temporary victory. The pressing question is—did his death weaken the terror network or just replace its leadership? As long as Nepal remains a safe haven for terrorists and Pakistan continues its policy of strategic replacement under the guise of cleansing, the threat will persist.
India must now adopt a dual-front strategy—first, exerting diplomatic pressure on neighboring nations like Nepal to make them more accountable; second, eradicating radical ideologies domestically. Terrorists like Saifullah are born not from weapons, but from ideas and ideological support. Ending that support is the real defeat of terrorism.
Written by: Ravindra Arya
