Sajid Mir: 26/11 Mastermind’s Hidden Past and Controversial Arrest in Pakistan
Sajid Mir, a senior operative of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has been one of the most elusive and controversial terrorists of recent times. Known as the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people and injured over 300, Mir’s story is a complex tale of denial, deception, and diplomatic intrigue.
Despite his central role in orchestrating the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan denied his presence on its soil for years, even claiming that he was deceased. However, intense international pressure, especially from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), led Pakistan to arrest Mir in 2022. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for terror financing.
Mir’s involvement in the 26/11 attacks made him a top target for international counterterrorism agencies. In 2011, he was indicted in the United States on multiple charges, including conspiracy to injure the property of a foreign government, providing material support to terrorists, and killing a U.S. citizen. The FBI listed Sajid Mir as one of its Most Wanted Terrorists, offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture.
However, despite being under Pakistan’s custody, Mir remained a figure of mystery, with limited public information about his status. Reports emerged in December 2023 that Sajid Mir was poisoned while in a Pakistani prison, leading to his hospitalization. The circumstances of his poisoning remain unclear, sparking speculation about the security and transparency of his detention.
Mir’s case has also become a point of diplomatic contention. In 2023, India and the United States pushed for his designation as a global terrorist at the United Nations. However, this proposal was blocked by China, highlighting the geopolitical complexities surrounding his case.
In a recent development, India struck nine terrorist-linked locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the early hours of May 7, 2025, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which resulted in 26 deaths. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reiterated Pakistan's role in promoting terrorism, stating that it has become a sanctuary for terrorists. He added that Pakistan has often misled the world about terrorists residing in its territory.
Misri recalled the time Islamabad told the world that Sajid Mir, the main perpetrator of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was initially reported dead by the country, only to be "brought back to life" later and arrested. This narrative has fueled suspicions about Pakistan's commitment to combating terrorism.
Sajid Mir is a Pakistani national and a member of the militant organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He is listed as a Most Wanted Terrorist by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and has been linked to various terrorist activities beyond the Mumbai attacks.
In 2005, Mir visited Mumbai and the Taj Hotel using a fake identity and passport to watch the India-Pakistan ODI Cricket match at Mohali. This information was revealed by Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari in 2012, the handler of the 10 LeT terrorists who unleashed terror over four days in Mumbai. Ansari disclosed that Mir made a model of the Taj Hotel to help the 10 terrorists learn about every nook and cranny of the structure.
After the attack, the FBI listed Mir as a most wanted terrorist, with a bounty of $5 million. The FBI page for Mir states, "Conspiracy to Injure Property of Foreign Government; Providing Material Support to Terrorists; Killing a Citizen Outside the U.S., Aiding and Abetting; Bombing of Places of Public Use." The Mumbai attacks also left six Americans dead.
In 2020, India sought Mir's extradition, but Pakistan stayed silent on the matter. It vehemently denied that Mir was in Pakistan and later claimed that he was dead. However, later it brought Mir back from the dead to seek Pakistan's removal from the 'Grey list' of the global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF). He was arrested in 2022 and sentenced to 15 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore amid international pressure.
The FBI also states that Mir allegedly conspired to commit a terrorist attack against a newspaper and its employees in Denmark between 2008 and 2009. This information adds another layer of complexity to Mir's already controversial history.
As Pakistan remains under international pressure to ensure transparency in its handling of terror-related cases, the fate of Sajid Mir could have broader implications for global counterterrorism efforts. The diplomatic tug-of-war surrounding his case illustrates the intricate web of international relations and the challenges of addressing terrorism on a global scale.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story. Sajid Mir's case is far from over, and as the world watches, the implications of his actions and the responses from various nations will continue to unfold.
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