Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, Founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Key Conspirator of 26/11, Confirmed Dead: UN Security Council

Bhuttavi was acting head of LeT/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD) at least twice when Saeed was detained.

New Delhi: The United Nations said on Thursday that Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, one of the founders of the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), is “dead”. Bhuttavi was deputy to Hafiz Saeed and was also the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attack. According to the United Nations Security Council website, Bhuttavi died of cardiac arrest.

It is important to note that the mastermind of the Mumbai attack died of cardiac arrest in Muridke in Punjab on May 29, 2023. According to the UN Security Council, Bhuttavi died while in custody of the Pakistani government.
Bhuttavi was designated a terrorist by the UN Security Council for his involvement in financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or committing acts for LeT.

In 2012, the terrorist was placed on the UN Security List because of his links to Al-Qaeda. “Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi was designated as associated with Al-Qaeda under paragraph 4 of Resolution 1989 (2011) on March 14, 2012 for “participation in the financing, planning, facilitation, preparation or execution of acts or activities by , in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of or in support of” or “otherwise supporting acts and activities of” Lashkare-Tayyiba (QDe.118),” according to the UN Security Council website.

Bhuttavi was acting head of LeT/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD) at least twice when Saeed was detained. Notably, Saeed was detained a few days after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 and was held until June 2009.

“During this period, Bhuttavi handled the day-to-day functions of the group and made independent decisions on behalf of the organization. Saeed was also arrested in May 2002. Bhuttavi was also LeT/JuD’s foremost scholar, had instructed its leaders and members and issued fatwas approving LeT/JuD operations,” the website said.