Just hours after India carried out precision strikes on nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the media, spotlighting Pakistan’s long-standing deceit in concealing terror operatives. His prime example? Sajid Mir—a name etched into global watchlists for orchestrating the 26/11 Mumbai carnage.

Misri recalled how Pakistan had previously insisted Mir was dead. But under mounting international scrutiny, particularly from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Mir suddenly turned up alive and under arrest. “This case stands as the clearest proof of Pakistan’s intentional misdirection,” Misri stated.

Mir, 47, hailing from Lahore, is a high-ranking figure in the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror network. Known for his strategic brilliance, Indian intelligence agencies consider him “the most dangerous individual in Pakistan.” Before Mumbai, he was linked to foiled plots, including one targeting Sydney in 2003, executed through foreign recruits.

During 26/11, he reportedly guided attackers from a Karachi-based control room and directly ordered the execution of a hostage at Chabad House. He also recruited David Headley, who conducted surveillance missions in India. Another associate, Tahawwur Rana, was extradited recently to face charges in India.

Despite multiple Red Corner notices and a $5 million FBI bounty, Mir’s arrest remained a mystery until Pakistan sought to escape the FATF grey list in 2022. China’s 2023 veto at the UN blocked Mir’s global terrorist tag, sparking backlash over political interference in terror designations.