Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, and the government have increased security around Hafiz Saeed, the chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, according to sources cited by The Times of India. Saeed, who is wanted by both the United States and India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has been sheltered in a densely populated area of Lahore. Sources say that he is being protected by former Special Service Group (SSG) commandos.
Saeed’s residence in Lahore’s Mohalla Johar, where he is currently staying, has been designated as a temporary sub-jail, despite his official imprisonment. Authorities have set up a control room equipped with CCTV cameras, including gesture detection technology, to monitor all movements within a one-kilometre radius. Saeed is often seen with heavy security, including ex-SSG commandos, and regularly visits terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and other locations.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a militant group linked to Saeed’s LeT, has claimed responsibility for the recent Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. India has accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism and called for action against Saeed, who is a major figure in cross-border terrorism.
Following the attack, Pakistan has claimed that India may retaliate with military action in response to the alleged involvement of Pakistani-backed terrorists. The country’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, accused India of preparing to launch military action based on “false and baseless allegations” against Pakistan.
Tarar’s comments were made via a post on X, where he warned of the potential consequences if India proceeded with any military action. The threat of escalation comes as tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors continue to rise.
The Pahalgam attack, considered one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike, has further strained the already fragile relationship between India and Pakistan. Since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, Pakistan has been accused of using proxy terror groups to destabilize the region.
Pakistan’s increased security for Saeed comes amidst fears that India may respond to the terror attack with military force. The situation remains tense as both countries remain on high alert, and diplomatic efforts are expected to intensify in the coming days.
