Latest news with #Lashkar-e-Toiba
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
NIA arrests 2 Pahalgam residents for ‘harbouring LeT terrorists' involved in April 22 terror attack
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two local residents for allegedly harbouring the terrorists who had carried out the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir. 'The two men – identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam – have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT),' a NIA spokesperson said. Twenty-six people were killed in the attack and 16 others were injured. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation, striking terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which was followed by three days of military confrontation between the two countries. Adding that as per the probe, Parvaiz and Bashir knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack, the spokesperson said, 'The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever.' 'The NIA, which has arrested the duo under section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, is further investigating the case, registered after the attack that shook the world… Further investigations in the case are continuing,' the spokesperson stated. Earlier this month, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) — the global money laundering and terror financing watchdog — condemned the 'brutal terrorist attack' in Pahalgam and noted that such attacks cannot occur 'without money and the means to move funds between terrorist supporters'. Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More
India.com
06-06-2025
- Politics
- 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.
India.com
06-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
India's ‘Chenab Trap' Chokes Pakistan's Terror Route; Even China On Edge – Here's How
New Delhi: In a moment that may go down as a masterstroke in India's strategic playbook, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6 unveiled the world's tallest railway bridge – the Chenab Bridge – along with a series of infrastructure marvels in Jammu & Kashmir. While hailed as engineering triumphs, these structures hide within them a fierce geopolitical message – India is silently fortifying its Himalayan frontier, and Pakistan and China are not happy. At 359 metres tall, taller than the Eiffel Tower, the steel-arched Chenab Bridge is part of the 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link (USBRL) and connects the Kashmir Valley to the Indian rail grid for the first time. But beyond the awe and applause, it is the military and counter-terror implications that have sent shockwaves across the border. Why Pakistan, China Should Be Worried The bridge sits near the treacherous Pir Panjal Range, a mountainous region that has for decades acted as a gateway for Pakistani infiltrators, including ISI-backed terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed. From Poonch and Rajouri to the lush forests near Pahalgam, this route has seen some of the most notorious attacks in India's history. Now, with the Chenab and Anji bridges completed and the valley more accessible to India's armed forces year-round, this infiltration corridor is on the verge of collapse. 'This is not just a bridge. It's a steel-fisted message to our enemies,' said a top defence expert, requesting anonymity. The bridge does not only deter Pakistan. It tightens India's grip over the Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh axis, critical to countering Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Troops, weapons and surveillance units can now move seamlessly – no more seasonal delays or logistical gaps. Hidden Checkmate This 'Chenab Chakravyuh' – as called by military strategists – is a geo-strategic snare apart from being about connectivity. With 24/7 surveillance cameras, anti-corrosion technologies and blast-resistant materials, the bridge is built to withstand earthquakes of 8.0 magnitude and even terrorist bombing attempts. 'They tried to divide us by using religion and terror. We are responding with steel, resolve and railways,' said a senior Indian Army official deployed in the region. Built with inputs from Indian Institute of Technology and the Defence Research, the Development Organisation (DRDO) and global experts, the Chenab Bridge uses high-tensile steel and advanced cable-crane systems. It is designed to last 120 years even under wind speeds of 260 kmph. And with two Vande Bharat trains flagged off from Katra to Srinagar, civilian integration of the region is now irreversible. What rattles Rawalpindi most is that this is blocking terrorists and rendering their long-game obsolete. For years, Pakistan has exploited difficult terrain and porous routes to fuel unrest in the valley. That door just slammed shut. Even Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir must now contend with the fact that Pir Panjal no longer favours infiltration, it favours India.
News18
06-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Marching In Reverse: How Pakistan Celebrates Defeats As ‘National Holidays'
Last Updated: Unless Pakistanis demand accountability from the establishment, their nation will remain ensnared in a cycle of self-deception, mistaking every backward step for progress Pakistan has long been characterised by contradictions, and its leadership has once again veered into the realm of performative patriotism. On this occasion, however, they have gone beyond their usual reliance on rhetoric or censorship, choosing instead to officially commemorate what is widely regarded as a strategic failure in the recent military standoff with India, following the latter's Operation Sindoor, which struck militant infrastructure and military targets without reprisal. On 13 May, the Shehbaz Sharif administration announced a new national holiday, Youm-e-Markaz-e-Haq (Day of the Battle for Truth), to be observed annually on 10 May — not to mark a victory, but what officials framed as a moral success over India, despite experiencing significant military losses during the four-day conflict. The circumstances surrounding this newly instituted national 'day of valour" are far from obscure. Between 6-7 and 10 May, South Asia experienced an escalation of armed conflict between India and Pakistan. In response to the Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 Indian civilians were killed by Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Toiba militants on 22 April, India undertook Operation Sindoor during the night of 6–7 May, aiming to demonstrate deterrence and punitive intent. The operation targeted no fewer than nine locations housing militant infrastructure and training camps across the Line of Control and within Pakistani territory. Independent analysts and satellite imagery have substantiated India's precision strikes on terror-related logistics. In retaliation, Pakistan's military launched its own Operation Bunyan Marsoos on 10 May, which included drone swarm offensives; however, all were effectively neutralised by India's Air Defence Systems, which intercepted and destroyed dozens of Turkish-made drones in large numbers. In a significant escalation, Indian armed forces targeted at least nine Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases, extending across the country from the Nur Khan airbase near Islamabad/Rawalpindi to Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur, and Sialkot, among others. With several airbases rendered largely inoperative, Islamabad was compelled to pursue de-escalation through Director General of Military Operations (DGMO)-level dialogue by the evening of 10 May. However, the DG-ISPR, the media arm of Pakistan's Armed Forces, reverted to its well-established narrative strategy by asserting that a 'befitting reply" had been delivered to India's precision strikes, despite clear evidence to the contrary. Such rhetoric has become a defining feature of the military's public relations discourse. Despite professing a commitment to transparency, the Pakistani establishment—along with its civilian front—has once again avoided offering genuine openness or accountability. Instead, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif capitulated to the military establishment's every exaggerated demand, aligning himself with its mythmaking apparatus. As part of these symbolic gestures, on 13 May, PM Sharif proclaimed that 10 May would henceforth be observed annually as Youm-e-Marka-e-Haq (Day of the Battle for Truth), in a show of support for the Pakistani armed forces. Furthermore, the government extended this orchestrated display by designating 16 May as Youm-e-Tashakur (Day of Gratitude), ostensibly to express thanks to divine forces for safeguarding the nation. Even more notably, General Asim Munir, the current Army Chief, was conferred the rare military rank of Field Marshal, becoming only the second Pakistan Army General to receive this title since General Ayub Khan in 1959. This elevation is symbolic rather than operational, reflecting more the military's intent to project strength than any substantive achievement on the battlefield. However, these recent developments provide insight into the broader pattern whereby the Pakistani state—especially its military establishment—routinely transforms setbacks into celebrations to uphold its legitimacy. In the process, it not only actively reshapes historical narratives in real time but also employs national holidays as instruments of diversion and morale control. The strategy itself dates back several decades. In 1965, Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar, aiming to provoke an uprising in Jammu and Kashmir by infiltrating regular army troops. The operation, however, ended in failure, triggering the full-scale Indo-Pak War of 1965. Ultimately, Pakistan ceded more territory than it gained and was compelled to agree to a ceasefire through the Tashkent Agreement of 1966. Nevertheless, each year on 6 September, the country observes Defence Day—a solemn patriotic occasion featuring military parades and speeches glorifying Pakistan's alleged martial superiority. In 1999, Pakistani forces unlawfully crossed the Line of Control and seized strategic mountain positions in the Kargil region. The operation, carried out without civilian government approval, led to the deaths of hundreds of Pakistani soldiers as India launched a counteroffensive to retake the area. Nevertheless, General Pervez Musharraf—the architect of the Kargil debacle, appointed Army Chief by Nawaz Sharif after bypassing two senior officers only months earlier—soon assumed control through a military coup. Even today, Kargil is remembered in segments of Pakistan's national narrative not as a failure, but as a bold display of military ingenuity. What remains consistent across these episodes is the deliberate reconfiguration of national memory. Military defeats are recast as stories of resistance, while tactical blunders are reframed as moral triumphs. This extends beyond mere propaganda; it represents a sustained strategy of narrative management that shields the military from accountability and ensures the civilian government remains subordinate to the armed forces' entrenched authority. By designating 10 May as Youm-e-Markaz-e-Haq, the state is not merely revising the narrative of a military confrontation but is also proactively undermining dissent, stifling debate, and conditioning future generations to prioritise myth over reality. Educational institutions will present it as a moment of national victory, much like the portrayal of Operation Gibraltar. Any critiques highlighting strategic failures or the true economic, diplomatic, and military costs are likely to be marginalised or suppressed. The utility of these contrived holidays is multifaceted. Firstly, they offer a cathartic release for a population grappling with economic hardship, political turmoil, and international isolation. In a nation beset by soaring inflation, a depreciating rupee, and frequent IMF bailouts, mythologised nationalism provides an inexpensive form of escapism that discourages critical inquiry. Secondly, such observances function as tests of loyalty. By requiring public participation in the commemoration of fabricated victories, the state fosters an environment where patriotism becomes performative and dissent is deemed perilous. Thirdly, and arguably most cynically, these holidays reinforce the military's hold over national identity. While in most democracies national holidays commemorate independence, revolution, civil rights, or peace, Pakistan's calendar is increasingly dominated by observances that glorify the military's role as protector and guardian, despite historical evidence to the contrary. These occasions are not simply commemorations but tools of militarised nationalism, deliberately crafted to obscure inconvenient realities. While every nation possesses its own symbols and moments of unity can be vital, when these symbols are founded on falsehoods and unity rests upon denial, the outcome is not strength but stagnation. Consequently, the Pakistani establishment is offering its population triumphalism and a continuous stream of delusion rather than the truthful account to which they are entitled. top videos View all Moving forward, although Youm-e-Markaz-e-Haq will likely be observed with parades, speeches, and patriotic songs, behind the flags and slogans lies the reality of a state regressing—where defeats are recast as triumphs, and history is rewritten not by scholars but by military leaders. Unless Pakistanis demand accountability from the establishment, their nation will remain ensnared in a cycle of self-deception, mistaking every backward step for progress. The writer is an author and a columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : Asim Munir Operation Sindoor pakistan Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 06, 2025, 16:37 IST News opinion Global Watch | Marching In Reverse: How Pakistan Celebrates Defeats As 'National Holidays'
News18
30-05-2025
- 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:
