Arjumand Gulzar Dar, better known as Hamza Burhan or “Doctor,” one of the alleged masterminds behind the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, has reportedly been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The killing took place in Muzaffarabad, where Burhan was said to be operating under heavy security protection.
According to reports, Hamza Burhan sustained multiple bullet injuries after unidentified assailants attacked him in Muzaffarabad. He was reportedly rushed to a military hospital in Rawalpindi but later succumbed to his injuries.
Burhan was considered one of the key conspirators behind the February 14, 2019 Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where a suicide bomber targeted a CRPF convoy, killing 40 personnel. The attack was one of the deadliest terror strikes on Indian security forces in recent years and led to a massive escalation in India-Pakistan tensions.
Indian authorities had designated Burhan as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2022. Officials linked him to the banned terror outfit Al Badr and accused him of coordinating multiple anti-India terror operations from across the border.
Reports suggest Burhan had originally left Jammu and Kashmir claiming he was pursuing higher studies in Pakistan before eventually joining terror networks operating in PoK. Over time, he allegedly developed close links with Pakistan-based handlers and extremist organisations.
The identity of the attackers and the motive behind the killing remain unclear. However, the incident has triggered renewed discussion around a series of mysterious killings involving terror operatives and extremist figures inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir over the past few years.
Security analysts described Burhan’s death as a major setback for terror infrastructure linked to cross-border militancy targeting India. Officials also believe the development could impact operational networks associated with past terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pulwama attack had dramatically worsened India-Pakistan relations in 2019 and eventually led to the Balakot airstrikes carried out by India against terror camps in Pakistan. The incident remains one of the defining moments in recent India-Pakistan security history.
