Latest news with #Lashkar-e-Toiba
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
‘Pahalgam Made Me Famous': LeT Terrorists, Pakistani Ministers Share Stage, Attack PM Modi, India
Last Updated: Pak's state-terror nexus: As Saifullah Kasuri boasts of fame, Talha Saeed calls Pahalgam attack 'drama'. Minister Rasheed says Hafiz Saeed, Kasuri represent '24 crore Pakistanis" Underscoring Pakistan's state-terror nexus, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Saifullah Kasuri, believed to be the mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, on Wednesday attended a rally, along with their ministers and wanted terrorists, including 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's son, Talha. 'I was blamed and called the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack, now I am famous in the entire world," said Kasuri, at the event in Kasoor in Punjab province. According to an India Today report, Pakistan's Food Minister Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan were present in the crowd. They welcomed Kasuri on the stage and embraced him. 'HUM GOLIYON SE DARNE WALE HAIN KYA?' Kasuri went on to announce plans to build a centre, road, and hospital in Allahabad in the name of Mudassir Shaheed, who was reportedly one of several high-profile terrorists killed in May 7 strikes by India on nine terror sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks – 'Roti khaao, nahi to meri goli hai hi" – Kasuri said, 'Narendra Modi samajhta hai hum goliyon se darne wale hain? Ye uski bhool hai (Modi is mistaken if he thinks we are scared of bullets)." In fact, the ministers personally welcomed Kasuri to the stage and embracing him. The India Today report further stated that Minister Malik Rasheed openly declared that '24 crore Pakistanis are today represented by men like Hafiz Saeed and Saifullah Kasuri". MY FATHER UNDER PEACEFUL PROTECTION OF STATE: HAFIZ SAEED'S SON Talha, 50, is a senior leader of the LeT and is the head of the cleric wing of the banned outfit. He is actively involved in recruitment, fund collection, planning and executing attacks by LeT in India and Indian interests in Afghanistan, according to the FirstPost. In the rally, he said, 'Today there is a message for India from Pakistan. We have won 'Operation Bunyan al-Marsus' and God should accept our presence here. I'm thankful to Malik Ahmad Khan, speaker of Punjab Assembly, Malik Rashid Khan and Saifullah Khalid for their presence here on stage. I also salute the people of Pakistan on behalf of my father Hafiz Saeed. I am here to tell you God loves those who do jihad." Talha also called the Pahalgam terror attack 'drama", adding that his father was under the peaceful protection of the state. Earlier in February, Talha delivered a provocative speech at a rally in Lahore to 'liberate Kashmir from India at any cost". A REGULAR OCCURRENCE In September 2018, Pakistan's Religious Affairs and Interfaith Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri shared a platform with Hafiz Saeed. In December 2018, Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi openly expressed support of his government to Saeed and his terror outfit. In September 2013, the terrorist, who carries a US bounty of $10 million, appeared openly at a rally in Islamabad, denouncing India as a terrorist state. In February 2014, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, the man behind the 2001 Parliament attack in India, spoke against the country in a rally in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir capital Muzaffarabad. With inputs from agencies First Published:
News18
7 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Provocation To Promotion: Asim Munir's Hollow Ascent
Last Updated: Asim Munir's promotion is a desperate attempt by the military establishment to mask operational debacles, consolidate power amid domestic turmoil The recent conferral of the Field Marshal's baton on General Asim Munir in Pakistan is a coronation without a conquest. The move, for all its pomp, reveals more about Pakistan's internal anxieties and strategic failures than any real military achievement. Rather than reflecting battlefield success or visionary leadership, Munir's promotion is a desperate attempt by the military establishment to mask operational debacles, consolidate power amid domestic turmoil, and double down on a longstanding policy of hostility towards India. A FIELD MARSHAL FORGED IN CRISIS, NOT VICTORY Typically, the title of Field Marshal is bestowed upon generals who have steered their nations to historic victories or displayed exceptional strategic brilliance. Munir's ascent, however, comes at a moment when Pakistan's military credibility has been severely battered — owing to India's Operation Sindoor. Far from being a celebration of any triumph, his promotion is designed to shore up sagging morale within the ranks and distract the public into further disillusionment. Pakistan today faces crises on multiple fronts — not only from external embarrassment but also from deep internal turmoil. The economy is under severe strain, insurgencies continue to simmer in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the army's once-unquestioned authority is now challenged by the public. The jailing of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the unrest that followed have only heightened the sense of instability. In this context, Munir's elevation is not a reward for merit but a manoeuvre to consolidate his personal authority and reinstate the military's grip on Pakistan's narrative. His speeches, steeped in the controversial 'two-nation theory", have gone far beyond dog-whistles. Munir, a self-styled 'Hafiz-e-Quran", has used his religious credentials to bolster his authority and justify a hardline, divisive agenda. He has aggressively asserted an irreconcilable divide between Hindus and Muslims, and described Pakistan as the 'second state established on the Kalimah" after Medina. He has invoked religious slogans, declaring the army's motto as 'imaan, taqwa aur jihad fi Sabilillah" — a call to religious war that is both divisive and incendiary. Such rhetoric, reminiscent of hardline military rulers of the past like Zia-ul-Haq, is deployed not only to prey on communal fault lines but also to provide ideological cover for terrorist proxies. This climate of incitement set the stage for the Pahalgam massacre, the most chilling recent example of Pakistan's cross-border terror strategy. The attack, executed by The Resistance Front (TRF) — a Lashkar-e-Toiba offshoot — was, according to Indian authorities and analysts, planned and directed with the support of Pakistan's security establishment. The deliberate targeting of Hindu tourists, the use of both Pakistani and local terrorists, and the TRF's open claim of responsibility all point to a calculated effort to inflame communal tensions and provoke a regional crisis. For Munir, manufacturing a crisis with India serves as a convenient rallying point to unite a fractured nation and distract from Pakistan's mounting domestic failures. THE REALITY BEHIND THE RANKS Beneath the surface of medals and titles, Pakistan's military leadership stands on shakier ground than its official narrative would have one believe. India's Operation Sindoor, launched in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, proved to be a swift and precise campaign that destroyed multiple terrorist camps and struck deep into Pakistani territory. Pakistan's attempts at retaliation, using drones and missiles, were decisively intercepted or neutralised by Indian defences. The confrontation concluded not with a Pakistani victory, but with Islamabad compelled to seek a ceasefire on India's terms. This episode has marked a significant shift in the regional dynamic. For decades, Pakistan has wielded its nuclear arsenal as a shield of impunity, banking on the threat of escalation to deter any decisive Indian response to cross-border terrorism. Operation Sindoor, however, demonstrated a new resolve in New Delhi. India is no longer cowed down by nuclear blackmail, and is confident in responding with calibrated military action that exposes the vulnerabilities of Pakistan's conventional defences. This pushback has sent a clear message: India will not allow the nuclear shadow to be used as cover for terrorism. Despite these setbacks, Pakistan's military — under Munir's direction — launched a propaganda blitz, staging victory parades and flooding the media with triumphalist narratives. The elevation of Munir to Field Marshal is the crowning moment of this campaign: a symbolic gesture aimed at projecting strength, even as the facts on the ground tell a story of strategic failure and diminished credibility. Munir's self-promotion draws uncomfortable parallels with Pakistan's first Field Marshal, Ayub Khan, who conferred the title upon himself after the disastrous 1965 war with India. Much like Ayub, Munir's rise seems aimed not at celebrating any strategic success, but at reshaping the narrative surrounding military setbacks. However, there is a notable difference: while Ayub stepped back from direct military command, Munir retains both symbolic and operational control, further tightening the military's grip over Pakistan's political landscape. The international community must realise that Munir's promotion is not a parochial affair. It is yet another reminder that Pakistan's military remains wedded to a doctrine of hostility and adventurism, rather than any constructive engagement. Munir's religiously-charged rhetoric, his willingness to provoke conflict, and his complicity in cross-border terrorism represent a disturbing trend. India's measured yet resolute response to recent provocations has revealed the vulnerabilities of Pakistan's military and signalled that attacks on Indian civilians will not go unanswered. Rather than prompting reform or introspection in Rawalpindi, Munir's elevation suggests that Pakistan's generals are determined to cling to the old playbook of denial and deflection. General Asim Munir's rise to Field Marshal is not a celebration of military excellence, but a symptom of a military and political system unable to confront its own failures. As long as provocation is rewarded and accountability evaded, the cycle of provocation and reprisal will persist. Kamal Madishetty is a PhD Candidate in international politics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. He tweets at @KamalMadishetty. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 26, 2025, 17:02 IST News opinion Opinion | Provocation To Promotion: Asim Munir's Hollow Ascent
India.com
23-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Hafiz Saeed 2.0? Pakistan Army Spokesperson Echoes 26/11 Attacks Accuseds Comments, Warns India Over Indus Treaty
Islamabad: Pakistani military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has issued a warning to India similar to that used by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist Hafiz Saeed. He was speaking at a public gathering over India's decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance till Islamabad abjures terrorism and stop aiding, funding and supporting terrorist groups emanating from its soil. Chaudhry reportedly made the comments during a speech at a university in Pakistan. Referring to India's recent move to suspend the water-sharing treaty following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, he said, "If you block our water, we will choke your breath." His statement mirrors the hostile rhetoric used by LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, known for his inflammatory speeches against India and the US. In a video, making rounds on social media X, Hafiz Saeed can be heard saying those same words. The statements come as India suspended parts of the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, a day after the terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. The treaty, signed in 1960 and brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries between the two countries. Meanwhile, New Delhi has repeatedly said "blood and water cannot flow together; talk and terror cannot go together," signalling a tougher stance on Pakistan's alleged support for cross-border terrorism. Suspension was a part of countermeasures taken against Islamabad, including "Operation Sindoor" on May 7 that targeted nine terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday declared that any future dialogue with Pakistan will focus solely on the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated firmly that "terror and talks can't coexist," highlighting that India remains open only to discussions on the extradition of wanted terrorists already listed and shared with Islamabad. Clarifying India's stance on the Kashmir issue, Jaiswal underlined, "Any bilateral discussion will only be on the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan." Speaking on the suspended Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Jaiswal confirmed that the agreement will remain in abeyance until Pakistan takes credible and irreversible steps to stop supporting terrorism. He echoed Prime Minister Modi's statement: "Water and blood cannot flow together," indicating a hardening of India's position on the historic water-sharing agreement. In a related development, two staff members of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi were declared 'persona non grata' for activities deemed inconsistent with their official status. 'One has already left India, and the other was given 24 hours to do so,' Jaiswal said, underscoring the seriousness of their misconduct. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in Rajasthan's Bikaner, where he delivered a stern warning to Islamabad. He said Pakistan would have to 'struggle for every penny' if it continued to support terror, and that it would not get India's rightful share of water under the current treaty terms. 'Playing with the blood of Indians will now cost Pakistan heavily," PM Modi added.
India.com
22-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
New Secret Tunnels Under LoC: Pakistan Army And LeT Plotting Sneak Attacks?
New Delhi: Pakistan lies that it is a victim of terrorism and does not sponsor extremism in India stood exposed this week when reports emerged on Saturday, revealing that the Pakistan Army personnel along with top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commanders made unsettling visit to the Line of Control (LoC). The New York Times report claimed that the military officials from across the border were spotted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with LeT terrorists. They allegedly scoped out new routes for sending jihadists into Indian territory. The development has raised eyebrows, with security experts linking it to the rise in underground tunnel networks built to bypass traditional border security. The Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) are investigating the report of hidden tunnels extending beneath the LoC – possibly designed to ferry terrorists and even soldiers unnoticed. If the report is true, this tactic is not new but the frequency of such inputs are rising. A Hindustan Times Report in April hinted that such operations could be a part of larger military strategies. With a disturbing number of tunnels discovered over the past few years in regions such as Kathua and Sambha, the potential for another wave of infiltration is undeniable. These tunnels are not only used for terrorists, ex-servicemen from Pakistan are allegedly positioned near the border to facilitate their operations and act as first responders in case of conflict. The timing of these revelations could not be more critical. Just days after the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistani terror infrastructures on May 7. The operation targeted nine terrorists hideouts linked to the Hizbul Mujahideen, the LeT and the Jaish-e-Mohammad. Pakistan swiftly retaliated the attack and began cross-border shelling. It attempted missile and drone attacks. But India responded with force, damaging Pakistan's radar infrastructure and airbases – signalling a serious escalation. The military action led both nations to a fragile ceasefire on May 10. With new tunnelling activities emerging, the peace may be short-lived. The question arises – how long can this fragile truce hold, what is lurking beneath the surface at the LoC? With tensions already at a boiling point, these tunnels could become the next big flashpoint in the India-Pakistan conflict.
India Today
15-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pak vows to rebuild mosque in LeT den Muridke destroyed by India in Op Sindoor
Pakistan's federal minister Rana Tanveer Hussain visited Muridke—one of the nine terror bases hit by India during Operation Sindoor—on Wednesday and said that the Pakistani government has pledged to rebuild the area at its own expense. He also mocked India's technology, saying, 'India's pride-filled technology would soon be seen being sold at Bilal Ganj in Lahore.'"Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir will personally finance the reconstruction of a mosque damaged in the operation," the federal minister said, as reported by Pakistani the government's decision to reconstruct the mosque, he said that the Pak Prime Minister and the army chief have pledged to rebuild the mosque at their personal expense, the report added. Operation Sindoor was in response to the Pahalgam terror attack where 26 people – mostly tourists – were killed by terrorists after asking their May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor and struck nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Muridke was one of the sites that was targeted during the operation. The main targets of the strikes were the jihadist structures of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba, the two terrorist organisations responsible for major attacks on Indian soil over the past three MURIDKE?Located about 33 km from Lahore on the historic Grand Trunk Road, Muridke hosts the headquarters of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. Called the Markaz-e-Toiba, the LeT headquarter operates under the facade of a charitable organisation, Jammat-ud_Dawa.advertisementThe Markaz complex, like the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in Bahawalpur, is the nerve centre of the LeT, operating as its ideological, logistical, and operational base. Hundreds of volunteers recruited from Pakistan and Kashmir are brought here for training and planning terrorist is said to be spread over 200 acres of land, making it one of the largest terror facilities in not just Pakistan but across the was established in the late 1980s by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of LeT, with support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and funding from external Watch
