The Dens Of Radicalisation: Inside Pakistan's Jihadi Breeding Grounds
Last Updated:
Top intelligence sources indicate that Muridke, located close to Lahore in Pakistan's Punjab province, serves as the headquarters of LeT
An intelligence note revealing the notorious activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed and accessed by CNN-News18 shows that early camps of LeT in Afghanistan were funded by Osama bin Laden, and Muridke city continues to be a key location for coordinating regional terrorism. This area connects LeT to broader Jihadist networks, including historical ties to Al-Qaeda.
LeT operates multiple camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), particularly near Muzaffarabad, to train militants for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. Top intelligence sources indicate that Muridke, located close to Lahore in Pakistan's Punjab province, serves as the headquarters of LeT. The group operates from Markaz-e-Taiba, a complex that functions as a hub for indoctrination, recruitment, and military training.
Muridke is LeT's primary infrastructure, housing offices, training facilities, ideological centers, and a command center. Historically, the Punjab provincial government has financed parts of this complex. The site is used to radicalise recruits by blending religious education with militant training. Despite being officially imprisoned, LeT's founder, Hafiz Saeed, has been frequently associated with activities at Muridke.
LeT maintains a presence across Pakistan and PoK, utilising both overt and covert networks. Besides Muridke, LeT operates major bases in Bahawalpur and Rawalkot, where training camps and logistical hubs are located. Following the 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire, LeT shifted some operations to north-western Pakistan, particularly near the Afghan border, to evade international scrutiny.
LeT maintains a political front called Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which runs charities, schools, and medical clinics in cities like Lahore and Karachi, masking militant activities under the guise of social welfare. In 2019, an offshoot called The Resistance Front (TRF) was formed. TRF conducts attacks in Kashmir while providing plausible deniability for Pakistan. Leaders like Sajid Jatt and Salim Rehmani are directly linked to LeT.
LeT militants frequently cross the Line of Control (LoC) from PoK into India, as evidenced by the 2025 Pahalgam attack, where gunmen targeted tourists after infiltrating from Pakistan. Despite being banned by the UN, US, EU, and India, LeT thrives with tacit support from Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies (ISI). Even from custody, Hafiz Saeed continues to orchestrate operations with security provided by the ISI.
First Published:
May 01, 2025, 15:47 IST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"When I saw the name Pahalgam, it really hit me hard": Former German Ambassador Thomas Matussek
Berlin [Germany], June 7 (ANI): Former German Ambassador to India Thomas Matussek advised his government that India, the biggest democracy in the world, should certainly be at the 'forefront' as our strategic partner for future in a world where old alliances 'show cracks'. Matussek told ANI, '... Germany is interested in stability. And stability means resolving issues through negotiations rather than by exchanging fire on both sides. In this world, where old alliances show cracks, we need to look beyond the fence to possible partners. Here we have the biggest democracy in the world, and if I were to advise my government, who should be our strategic partners for the future? India certainly should be at the forefront. He also called for deepening the strategic cooperation of Germany with India, as the country is 'fighting the same enemies of democracy'. He added, 'If we look at China or the US, our closest partner, going through a period of instability and chaos, it's important that we mend our offences with India and come to an arrangement on trade and deepen our strategic cooperation with India... India in the long run is fighting the same enemies of democracy. It would be every rupee well spent to invest in that bilateral strategic defence partnership...' The former envoy said that the Pahalgam terror attack 'really hit him hard' and said that it is no longer a secret who is standing up behind the terrorists. 'It's very important that this high-level delegation came at this moment because we have a new German government and it's very important to have some continuity... It was a great pleasure to meet some old friends like MJ Akbar... This delegation is very welcome. We are delighted that they're here... When I saw the name Pahalgam, it really hit me hard. We have seen a long period of exchange of weapons, of terrorism, counter terrorism between India and Pakistan, but since both countries are nuclear powers, it has reached a new quality, and I can only recommend the Indian government for being so measured in their response. Because we know exactly who the terrorists are. We know exactly who is behind the terrorists. I prayed that India's answer would not be an awful...,' he added. The delegation led by Ravi Shankar Prasad arrived in Germany after concluding their visit to Belgium. The other delegates are BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, MJ Akbar, Gulam Ali Khatana, and Samik Bhattacharya; Congress MP Amar Singh, Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT), AIADMK MP M Thambidurai and former diplomat Pankaj Saran. Earlier, Ravi Shankar Prasad said they raised strong concerns about terrorism during their visit to Brussels and generals of Pakistan 'run that country with the help of a military terrorist coalition', which is a 'threat' to democracy and humanity. This diplomatic effort forms part of India's global outreach following Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-sponsored militants that claimed 26 lives and injured several others. Subsequently, the Indian Armed Forces carried out targeted strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"Terrorism is heinous crime, must be condemned by everybody": Former German envoy Bernd Mutzelburg
Berlin [Germany], June 7 (ANI): Former Ambassador of Germany to India Bernd Mutzelburg said that terrorism is a heinous crime and must be condemned by everybody and stressed that there can be no excuse for committing terrorism against the civilian population. His remarks came as an all-party delegation led by BJP Ravi Shankar Prasad arrived in Germany to explain India's position in the wake of the operation Sindoor and refocus attention on terrorism. Mutzelburg told ANI, 'Terrorism, in whatever form and however it is being put forward, is a heinous crime and must be condemned by everybody. There can be no excuse for committing terrorism against the civilian population... We are standing together in that fight. We have established a strategic partnership 30 years ago. Fortunately, this strategic partnership is now filled with more substance and content. What is important is that this strategic partnership becomes truly strategic. Strategic means it must cope with the security challenges we face together... One of the gravest security challenges we have is the challenge of terrorism. We've really got to stand together against this enormous challenge and fight it wherever we can...' The former envoy said that after the April 22 Pahalgam 'horrendous' terror attack, the all-party delegation arrived in Germany to explain the situation. 'It is a wonderful symbol for the growing friendship between our two countries that such a delegation, which reflects the values of India, composed of representatives of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha*, is here. A fully democratic delegation; we are pleased to listen to them and to share our thoughts with them. I find it very important that after this horrendous and heinous crime of this attack on 22nd April, they come here to explain the situation to us. I think that is very important...,' he added. The delegation led by Ravi Shankar Prasad arrived in Germany after concluding their visit to Belgium. The other delegates are BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, MJ Akbar, Gulam Ali Khatana, and Samik Bhattacharya; Congress MP Amar Singh, Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT), AIADMK MP M Thambidurai and former diplomat Pankaj Saran. Earlier, Ravi Shankar Prasad said they raised strong concerns about terrorism during their visit to Brussels and generals of Pakistan 'run that country with the help of a military terrorist coalition', which is a 'threat' to democracy and humanity. This diplomatic effort forms part of India's global outreach following Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-sponsored militants that claimed 26 lives and injured several others. Subsequently, the Indian Armed Forces carried out targeted strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Hafiz Saeed Living In Luxury Under Govt Protection, Pakistan Won't Hand Him Over To India, Says Son Talha
Islamabad/New Delhi: In a sensational revelation that tears the mask off Pakistan's counter-terror claims, Talha Saeed, son of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, has declared in a new video that his father is safe, protected by the Pakistani government and will not be handed over to India ever. As speculation mounted over the fate of the Lashkar-e-Toiba founder, Talha broke his silence in an interview, dispelling rumours about his father's deteriorating health or imprisonment. Instead, he painted the image of a man who is 'peacefully spending his time writing Quranic commentary and offering prayers' – not languishing in any prison cell, as Pakistan would have the world believe. 'He is absolutely safe, well and living a peaceful life. The idea of handing him over to India is out of the question,' Talha said defiantly. The statement comes amid rising demands from India for Hafiz Saeed's extradition, especially with the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks approaching. The UN-designated terrorist, Saeed is accused of orchestrating the bloodbath that left 166 people dead and scores wounded. Yet, his son's words suggest that Pakistan's 'house arrest' may just be a smokescreen for international optics. The New Face of Anti-India Rhetoric? Talha Saeed has been increasingly active in Pakistan's public and media space, frequently spewing venom against India and rallying Islamist sympathisers. Many analysts believe that with Hafiz Saeed aging and reportedly unwell, Talha is now being groomed to take over his father's ideological and operational mantle within the Lashkar-e-Toiba. His interviews are being seen as a calculated PR move – not only to reassure LeT's rank and file but also to send a message to India and the global community: Hafiz Saeed is not going anywhere. Talha's confession is damning for a country that publicly claims to fight terrorism but is safeguarding its most notorious terrorist. Despite assurances given to global watchdogs like FATF, Pakistan appears to be offering VIP treatment to a man responsible for one of the worst terror attacks on Indian soil. India has repeatedly presented evidence of Saeed's involvement in the Mumbai attacks, demanding his extradition. But as Talha's statements now make clear, Islamabad never intended to act on those demands – a stance that undermines its credibility on the world stage. With Talha's open admission now in the public domain, Indian intelligence and diplomatic channels are closely monitoring the developments. The revelations strengthen India's position that Pakistan continues to harbour terrorists under state protection, even while demanding legitimacy and aid from international allies.
