Top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander exposes Pakistan Army's direct link to Pahalgam terror attack

Islamabad: The Pakistan Army has trained and financed terrorist outfits against India for several decades now. Now, a video has emerged from Pakistan which has established the Pakistan Army’s direct involvement in last year’s Pahalgam terrorist attack.

What does the video show?

A video has surfaced of Saifullah Kasuri, the deputy chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba and the mastermind of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. In the video, he has revealed his organization's deep ties with the Pakistan Army. Kasuri has claimed that the Pakistan Army often invites him to lead funeral prayers for its soldiers. 

The date and time of the video are unknown, but it shows him giving a speech to schoolchildren. However, intelligence sources have confirmed the authenticity of the video.

What are Kasuri’s claims?

"The Pakistani army calls me to lead funeral prayers. Do you know that even India fears me?" Saifullah Kasuri claimed.

This revelation strengthens India's long-standing allegations of state-sponsored terrorism by Pakistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is responsible for the killing of 26 tourists in the Pahalgam attack, has often worked in conjunction with the Pakistan Army, as was also seen during the 1999 Kargil War.

What is Jaish-e-Mohammed’s warning?

Pakistan-based banned terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed has threatened to carry out multiple terrorist attacks in India, claiming that its has thousands of suicide bombers ready to strike. A new audio clip, allegedly featuring the voice of the organization's founder and leader, Maulana Masood Azhar, has become viral on social media.

In this audio clip, Azhar is heard claiming that he has thousands of suicide bombers ready. This claim by Masood Azhar, who has been declared a global terrorist by the United Nations, comes at a time when India has taken stringent action against Jaish-e-Mohammed's bases inside Pakistan following the Pulwama, Pathankot, and the recent Pahalgam attacks. However, the authenticity of this viral audio has not yet been officially confirmed and remains under investigation.

In the viral audio clip, Masood Azhar can be heard making extravagant claims about the strength of his cadre. He claimed that he has more than a thousand suicide bombers ready to strike India. He further stated that revealing the actual number would cause a global uproar. These attackers do not want any material rewards, visas, or personal benefits; they only seek martyrdom. According to the audio, Masood Azhar is being pressured by his cadre to allow them to infiltrate India.

How much damage did Operation Sindoor cause to Jaish-e-Mohammed?

It is worth noting that in Operation Sindoor, launched by India in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, several Jaish-e-Mohammed bases suffered significant damage. Several close associates, relatives, and terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar were killed in this operation. Masood Azhar has not been seen publicly since 2019. That same year, a powerful explosion occurred at his base in Bahawalpur, which he narrowly survived. Since then, he has virtually disappeared from public view. 
Masood Azhar, designated a global terrorist by the United Nations, has been the mastermind behind several deadly attacks in India, including the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing (in which 44 CRPF personnel were killed). Recent intelligence suggests he may be active in Pakistan-occupied territories, away from Bahawalpur.