Pak funnels earthquake aid to Lashkar to rebuild mosque destroyed in Op Sindoor

The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has demolished and begun reconstructing its Markaz Taiba headquarters in Muridke, which was destroyed in the May 7 Indian air strike during Operation Sindoor. The terrorist group is channelling state funds and diverting relief meant for flood victims to rebuild its terror infrastructure, sources told India Today TV.

Barely five months after Operation Sindoor, the LeT has completed the demolition of its Muridke-based headquarters. The strike targeted three core buildings used for cadre accommodation, weapons storage, and training facilities. Only skeletal remains of the structures were left standing, making the site unusable for the group’s operational needs.

The systematic demolition of Markaz Taiba complex started on August 18, when LeT deployed five JCB machines to begin clearing the remnants. By August 20, partial razing of the Umm-ul-Qura training complex had occurred, followed by its complete demolition on September 4.

The final heavily damaged accommodation block was fully demolished by September 7. As of now, the entire complex is reduced to rubble and debris clearance is ongoing, with rebuilding set to follow.

PAKISTAN STATE BACKING

During the four-day conflict in early May, the Pakistani government publicly committed to financing the reconstruction of all damaged facilities of state-sponsored terror groups, including LeT.

LeT received an initial assistance package of PKR 4 crore (Rs 1.25 crore) on August 14 from Islamabad to initiate the rebuilding of Markaz Taiba. However, internal assessments by the group estimate that restoring the complex to its pre-strike scale will require more than PKR 15 crore (Rs 4.70 crore).

HUMANITARIAN COVER

To bridge the funding gap, LeT has launched fundraising campaigns under the cover of humanitarian relief, presenting their drives as support for flood victims.

Using the label 'Relief for flood victims', both online and offline efforts are ongoing. Evidence indicates that while these appeals are publicly promoted as aid initiatives, the actual objective is channelling funds into the reconstruction of headquarters and camps destroyed in the May strikes.

The ongoing fundraising reflects patterns observed in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and PoK. At that time, LeT—operating under the Jamaat-ud-Dawa front—raised billions of PKR through humanitarian appeals, with investigations later revealing that approximately 80% of funds were diverted to terror infrastructure.

One such example was the Markaz Abbas in Kotli, built with diverted earthquake funds and later destroyed by the Indian Air Force during this year’s Operation Sindoor. At present, LeT cadres are staging photo opportunities at flood relief camps with Pakistani Rangers and officials while channeling resources into rebuilding militant infrastructure.

SUPERVISION AND RELOCATION

The demolition and reconstruction at Markaz Taiba are being supervised by senior LeT leaders, including Markaz Taiba director Maulana Abu Zar, chief trainer Ustad ul Mujahiddin and Commander, Operational Oversight, Yunus Shah Bukhari.

Following the May airstrike, cadre training and accommodation were first relocated to Markaz Aqsa in Bahawalpur and by July, further shifted to Markaz Yarmouk in Patoki, Kasur district, under the oversight of Abdul Rashid Mohsin.

Combined evidence from current and historical activities demonstrates that LeT’s fundraising for 'Relief for flood victims' is a front for financing militant infrastructure.

Cadres are seen collecting donations while distributing token supplies, mirroring past campaigns where the majority of funds were redirected.

Sources confirm that debris clearance is underway and that construction of new facilities will soon begin, with a targeted completion ahead of February 5, 2026 for the annual Kashmir Solidarity Day convention, a major event for LeT.

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