Sajid Mir, one of the key terrorists responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was confirmed to be alive after Pakistan initially claimed he had died. Mir, who played a major role in planning and executing the 2008 Mumbai attacks, had reportedly undergone plastic surgery to change his appearance to evade capture. For years, Pakistan had denied his presence, but under intense international pressure, they were forced to admit he is still alive.

This revelation came during a briefing on India’s Operation Sindoor, which involved missile strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These strikes were a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where 26 people were killed. Mir's continued survival highlights the ongoing danger posed by those responsible for some of the deadliest terror attacks.

In Operation Sindoor,Indian forces targeted terror camps responsible for major attacks over the past two decades, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the recent Pahalgam massacre.Sajid Mir, who was the key planner of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was responsible for the deaths of 166 people, including 20 security forces and 26 foreign nationals, while over 300 others were injured.

India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, pointed out Pakistan’s long-standing support for terrorism. He pointed out how Pakistan not only trains and harbours terrorists but also goes to extreme lengths to protect them. He gave the example of Sajid Mir, who was initially declared dead by Pakistan, but after intense international pressure, Pakistan admitted he was alive and arrested him. Misri called this a clear example of how Pakistan nurtures and shields terror elements.

Who is Sajid Mir

Sajid Mir, a member of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is most notorious for his role in planning the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Mir, who was the LeT's foreign recruiter, also played a key role in handling American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who was involved in the 26/11 attacks.

According to the FBI, after the attacks, Mir might have undergone cosmetic surgery to change his appearance, likely to evade capture. Mir was instrumental in advising Headley to change his name from Dawood Gilani to David Coleman Headley to pose as a non-Muslim American in India and avoid suspicion. Mir also guided Headley in setting up a fake immigration office in Mumbai, which served as a cover for surveillance activities. He even provided Headley with $25,000 to establish the front.

A front of LeT, The Resistance Front, claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, linking Mir's long-standing association with terrorism. In 2022, Sajid Mir was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Pakistan for terror financing. Earlier, authorities had told Western officials he was arrested in April and sentenced to eight years.

Pakistan has been on the FATF grey list since 2018 for failing to tackle money laundering and terror financing. FATF planned a visit to assess Pakistan's compliance in 2022. Experts believe Mir’s arrest was a move to show Pakistan was meeting FATF's requirements.