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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bilawal Bhutto's offer to extradite Hafiz Saeed to India ignites internal conflict in Pakistan
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed 's son, Talha Saeed , has strongly criticised former Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto 's recent remarks about possible extradition of wanted terrorists to India . In a video statement released on Sunday, Talha described Bhutto's offer as 'irresponsible' and 'unacceptable,' saying it had brought shame to Pakistan internationally. Bhutto had made the comments during an interview with Al Jazeera on Friday. When asked about the possibility of handing over figures like Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar , Bhutto said, 'We have no objection to such steps as a confidence-building measure,' provided India cooperates. LeT-linked political groups reject Bhutto's position Responding to Bhutto's statement, Talha Saeed said, 'We and our community' would never accept the idea of handing over his father to India, calling India a hostile country. He also accused Bhutto of promoting narratives influenced by the West and India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 착용했을 때, 더 뿌듯한 팔찌 유니세프 지금 기부하기 Undo The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, associated with LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, issued a statement rejecting Bhutto's views. It blamed India for spreading terrorism in Pakistan and neighbouring regions. No official backing for Bhutto's remarks Although Bhutto's remarks gained attention, they carry no official weight. He currently holds no position in Pakistan's government. Many observers see his statement as political messaging without real intent or authority. Live Events "Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has no locus standi. He is not in the cabinet, he is not part of the armed forces. Yes, his father is the president of Pakistan (Asif Ali Zardari), and that's about all," said Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) in an interview with TOI. Arya said that the Pakistani establishment often uses figures like Bhutto to send diplomatic signals without committing officially. "Because the Indus Waters Treaty has been held in abeyance by India, they want to give out an olive branch to India as a token of peace or a white flag. But tomorrow, if public backlash is a little too much... at that point in time, Pakistan can say Bilawal is not part of the government," he said. India unlikely to respond without institutional clarity Indian defence experts believe the offer lacks credibility. Without official support from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or clear institutional steps, analysts see little reason for India to engage. Major Arya said that Bhutto's statement is likely a distraction. He added that Islamabad may be trying to manage its international image while domestic pressures continue to grow. 'The extradition offer lacks credibility because it came from someone without governing authority,' Arya said. Unless Pakistan backs such statements with policy action and transparency in dealing with terror groups, diplomatic engagement with India is expected to remain on hold.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pak's Punjab Speaker backs Saifullah Kasuri, a key Lashkar terrorist involved in Pahalgam attack
Malik Ahmed Khan, the Speaker of Pakistan's Punjab Assembly, has come under scrutiny after publicly defending Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) deputy chief Saifullah Kasuri — a key terrorist allegedly involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people. In a video circulating on social media, Malik Ahmed Khan defended Kasuri during a rally, dismissing allegations against him by insisting he should not be treated as an accused "without an investigation." Earlier, on May 28, Khan was seen seated in the front row at a public programme in Kasur, Punjab, alongside Saifullah Khalid — considered a mastermind of the Pahalgam attack — and Talha Saeed, son of UN-sanctioned terrorist Hafiz Saeed and de facto head of LeT. Both Khalid and Talha are listed as global terrorists, with Khalid being officially designated by the US. The rally, organised by the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) to mark Youm-e-Takbeer, also featured senior leaders, including food minister Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan and close associates of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz. The LeT-linked figures, including Saeed, Kasuri, and Amir Hamza, were seen prominently seated and interacting with political leaders. In the video shared on X, Malik Ahmed Khan also mentioned his personal ties to Kasur — the town where the rally took place — further deepening the controversy. The presence of top LeT operatives at the rally attracted attention from foreign policy observers, especially after some of them boasted publicly about having avenged Pakistan's 1971 defeat to India. US-designated terrorists Saifullah Kasuri and Muzammil Hashmi claimed credit for their involvement in a so-called "coup" in Bangladesh while addressing supporters at rallies held last week. "We emerged victorious against you in Bangladesh last year," they declared. Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the target of their vitriol during a rally organised by the Lashkar-e-Taiba's political front, the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), in Gujranwala on May 28. Hashmi was heard proclaiming: 'Tum hamein apni goli se darate ho, Modi hum tujhe paigham dete hain, humare bachche teri missailon se nahi dare, hum teri goli se kya darenge.' (You try to scare us with your bullets, Modi, but we send you a message — our children are not afraid of your missiles, why would we fear your bullets?) At another rally in Rahim Yar Khan, Kasuri drew historical parallels with the 1971 Bangladesh war, claiming that his outfit had avenged Pakistan's defeat. "I was four years old when Pakistan was dismembered in 1971. The then Indian PM Indira Gandhi had declared that she had drowned the two-nation theory in the khaleej (Bay of Bengal). On May 10, we took the revenge of 1971," he told supporters. Kasuri also spoke of the Indian airstrikes on Muridke that killed fellow terrorist Mudassar, expressing emotional pain over being prevented from attending his funeral. "I was not allowed to attend his funeral. On the day of his funeral, I cried a lot," he said. Several Pakistani ministers were seen at the same events, where they shared the stage with LeT operatives. They were seen greeting and interacting with them at the rally in Kasur. Kasuri, believed to be the key planner behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, made a surprise appearance at the PMML gathering. The Indian government has linked the attack to LeT's proxy outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF). While addressing the crowd, Kasuri not only raised anti-India slogans but also referred to slain terrorists killed in India's Operation Sindoor as 'martyrs.' "India labelled me the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack while I was busy taking part in events and people's happiness took the name 'Kasur', 'Kasuri', so many times that now the entire world knows me as famous," he said at the rally. could not independently verify the authenticity of these videos. Reports suggest Kasuri has been given refuge by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, in Bahawalpur.
India Today
30-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pakistan's terror nexus exposed: Ministers share stage with LeT commanders
In an alarming display of state complicity with terror, senior ministers of Pakistan's federal and Punjab governments were seen sharing the stage with some of India's most wanted terrorists during an event held in Kasur District, Punjab province, on May 28 — marked in Pakistan as Youm-e-Takbeer, commemorating its nuclear unfolded on that stage has raised serious concerns globally: Pakistan's Food Minister Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan — both close confidantes of PM Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz — were seated alongside LeT-linked terrorists like Saifullah Kasuri, Talha Saeed (son of Hafiz Saeed) and Amir Hamza, spewing venom against India and glorifying terrorism. Ministers greet terrorists, call them 'symbols of Pakistan'advertisementRather than distancing themselves from extremist figures, the ministers personally welcomed the terrorists to the stage — embracing them, applauding them, and delivering speeches glorifying their role in what they described as 'defending Pakistan.' Minister Malik Rasheed openly declared that '24 crore Pakistanis are today represented by men like Hafiz Saeed and Saifullah Kasuri,' equating terror figures with national identity. He even announced that the Shehbaz Sharif government would offer a job to the brother of Mudasir, a Lashkar commander killed in India's airstrike on the group's Muridke calls himself famous post Pahalgam-attackOne of the most shocking appearances was that of Saifullah Kasuri, accused mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, who had gone underground after the strike. In a 24-minute-long hate-filled speech, Kasuri proudly proclaimed, 'I was blamed for Pahalgam and now the whole world knows my name.'advertisementHis appearance confirms intelligence inputs that Kasuri had been sheltered by Pakistan's ISI in Bahawalpur, and his re-emergence in public alongside state ministers further validates India's longstanding accusation of official patronage to and videos from the event are now circulating widely, showcasing what many experts are calling 'visual proof of Pakistan's unholy alliance with terror outfits.' At the end of the program, when Kasuri began thanking individual ministers by name, security personnel were seen signaling the media to stop filming, further revealing the state's desire to hide — but inability to contain — its covert terror rants, Khalistani slogans echoIn what can only be described as dangerous provocation, Amir Hamza, Lashkar-e-Taiba co-founder and designated global terrorist, raised pro-Khalistan slogans from the stage. His presence and open speech signal a renewed effort by Pakistan's deep state and LeT to stoke separatism and unrest in India's Punjab. This confirms the growing ISI-LeT propaganda nexus, using state events and official platforms to launch ideological warfare against in Karachi and Rawalpindi, Hafiz Saeed's political front — the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) — organised multiple rallies marking Youm-e-Takbeer. In Rawalpindi, the rally titled 'Ummah's Backbone, Strong Pakistan' moved from Press Club to Chandni Chowk. Several participants carried posters of Hafiz Saeed, Army Chief Asim Munir, and other senior defence officials — again blurring the lines between terror networks and the Pakistani India-Pakistan peace talks still hold ground?These developments pose an urgent question for India's policymakers: Can any peace process or dialogue proceed when Pakistan's ministers are seen embracing India's most wanted terrorists?The public glorification of terror, particularly of Saifullah Kasuri — linked to the Pahalgam massacre — is not only deeply offensive but a direct challenge to international norms on curtain drops in KasurThis is no longer about covert links or intelligence estimates. What happened in Kasur was caught on camera: senior Pakistani politicians embracing terror accused, giving them legitimacy, and allowing them to preach violence against India — all on a public the world needed visual evidence of Pakistan's state-terror symbiosis, May 28 delivered it loud and can no longer play victim while nurturing villains. The time for double-speak is InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Operation Sindoor
News18
08-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
On Camera, LeT Commander Leads Prayers For Terrorists Killed In Operation Sindoor
Last Updated: Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a US-designated global terrorist, can be seen conducting prayers in the presence of uniformed Pakistan Army personnel, indicating State support for Jihadi groups In a video that has yet again exposed Pakistan's duplicity on combating terror, LeT commander Hafiz Abdul Rauf was caught on video leading funeral prayers for terrorists killed in precision Indian strikes early on Wednesday. India's Operation Sindoor flattened nine terror sites in Pakistan and PoK linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, killing about 80-100 terrorists. In the video, Rauf— a US-designated global terrorist—can be seen conducting the prayers in the presence of uniformed Pakistan Army personnel, indicating the State's support for Jihadi groups. Rauf, who was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the United States in 2010, enjoys a free run in Pakistan, attending public events and representing LeT-linked institutions. He has held multiple leadership roles within the terror network and in 2008, on the orders of LeT chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, he led a delegation to oversee LeT-linked activities in Bajaur, Pakistan. 🔴 #BREAKING Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a US-designated global terrorist and a Lashkar e Taiba commander, leads funeral prayers for those killed in India's strikes — Taha Siddiqui (@TahaSSiddiqui) May 7, 2025 Several media outlets reported that Rauf was earlier designated as LeT's Director of Public Service in 2003 apart from serving as a public spokesperson for the terror group. He played an instrumental role in giving shape to propaganda campaigns under the banner of Falah-i Insaniat Foundation (FIF)—a shadow outfit—to further LeT's agenda. The videos serve as a reminder of Pakistan's support for outfits fomenting terror on India soil, a glimpse of which was seen in a separate admission by Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif, who recently acknowledged that the country had long supported and funded terrorist groups, describing it as 'dirty work" done for foreign powers. In a calculated precision strike, India avenged the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam which claimed the lives of 26 people by striking terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday. Terming the strikes 'measured and non-escalatory", India stressed that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. Sources said the strikes were carefully calibrated, with precision targeting, and PM Modi personally monitored the entire operation. A senior defence official, while speaking to CNN-News18, said India struck nine targets in total—four in Pakistan and five in PoK—in close coordination with the Indian Army and Air Force. The retaliation was 'non-contact" in nature, and in military terms, called 'kinetic action". The sites included Bahawalpur, the stronghold of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Muridke, the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar said that as many as 10 members of his family and four aides were killed in Indian strikes. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
India.com
01-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
India-Pakistan war: Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed moved by ISI, Pakistan Army amid fears of impending Indian attack, shifted to secret location in...
Hafiz Saeed (File) India-Pakistan war: The Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence– the country's notorious spy agency– has reportedly moved Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed to secret location, amid fears of an impending covert attack on the dreaded terrorist by Indian agencies. According to a media report, Pakistani agencies have beefed up the security Hafiz Saeed, fearing India might target the Lashkar chief in a covert manner to avenge the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack which was initially claimed by LeT-linked The Resistance Front (TRF) terror group, who later backtracked from their statement. Hafiz Saeed moved to another location Hafiz Saeed, a radical Islamist cleric and a UN-designated global terrorist, has been moved from his home in Mohalla Johar in Lahore, and shifted to a small house, guarded by former SSG commandos, in a densely populated area of the city, Firstpost reported. As per the report, Hafiz Saeed's house in Mohalla Johar is still guarded by a huge number of security personnel, presumably to throw off Indian agencies. Hafiz Saeed, the notorious founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, is one of the most wanted terrorists in India as he is believed to be the mastermind of several deadly terror attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai attack. Saeed, who is designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations, is rarely seen in public and is believed to reside in Mohalla Johar, Lahore, which also serves as a sub-jail. Saeed was 'arrested' in 2019 The notorious Lashkar chief was 'arrested' by Pakistani agencies in 2019, and kept under 'protective custody', but has appeared in public more than two dozen times in the last three years. Saeed has been convicted in two terror financing cases (in 2020, and April 2022), and sentenced to 46 years in jail, with the court ruling that both sentences should run simultaneously. However, despite his 'arrest', which India terms as farcical, Hafiz Saeed moves freely, and is often sighted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), accompanied by a heavy security cover. There are also report claiming Saeed allegedly visited terror training camps in Bahawalpur and Rawalkot, days ahead of the Pahalgam attack. Saeed's Lahore house, where he is officially under 'arrest', is a high-security zone, monitored by a dedicated control room, and 24/7 CCTV surveillance that monitors the entire area within a one-kilometer radius.
