The recent killing of Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Lahore, Pakistan has once again highlighted the issue of cross-border terrorism and the role of Pakistan in supporting such activities.
Panjwar, who was designated as a terrorist by India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was the head of the Khalistan Commando Force-Panjwar group. He had been involved in a number of killings in Punjab before fleeing to Pakistan in 1995-96. From there, he continued to engage in terrorist activities aimed at destabilizing India.
The killing of Panjwar is not an isolated incident. In recent years, there have been several instances of terror kingpins being targeted outside India. In February this year, Bashir Ahmad Peer, a self-styled commander of the terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi. Former commander of Pakistan-based terror outfit Al Badr, Syed Khalid Raza, was killed in a similar manner outside his residence in Karachi in the same month. Kashmir-born terrorist, Aijaz Ahmad Ahanger alias Abu Usman Al-Kashmiri, who had joined the Islamic State( IS), was reportedly killed in February in Kunar province of Afghanistan.
The killing of these terrorists outside India raises serious questions about the role of Pakistan in supporting and harboring them. It is widely believed that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies including the ISI, Military Intelligence (MI) and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) have links with these terrorist groups and provide them with safe havens to carry out their activities.
The international community needs to put pressure on Pakistan to crack down on these terrorist groups and take decisive action against those who support them. The killing of Panjwar is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to root out terrorism from the region.
India and Pakistan need to engage in a dialogue to address the issue of cross-border terrorism and work towards building trust and cooperation. It is in the interest of both countries to put an end to this cycle of violence and create a peaceful and stable environment in the region.
In conclusion, the killing of Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan highlights the urgent need for all countries in the region to come together and take strong action against terrorism. The international community must support efforts to root out terrorism and promote peace and stability in the region.