3 hours ago
Last Updated:May 01, 2025, 15:47 IST
Top intelligence sources indicate that Muridke, located close to Lahore in Pakistan's Punjab province, serves as the headquarters of LeT
Even from custody, Hafiz Saeed continues to orchestrate operations with security provided by the ISI. (PTI)
An intelligence note revealing the notorious activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed and accessed by CNN-News18 shows that early camps of LeT in Afghanistan were funded by Osama bin Laden, and Muridke city continues to be a key location for coordinating regional terrorism. This area connects LeT to broader Jihadist networks, including historical ties to Al-Qaeda.
LeT operates multiple camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), particularly near Muzaffarabad, to train militants for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. Top intelligence sources indicate that Muridke, located close to Lahore in Pakistan’s Punjab province, serves as the headquarters of LeT. The group operates from Markaz-e-Taiba, a complex that functions as a hub for indoctrination, recruitment, and military training.
Muridke is LeT’s primary infrastructure, housing offices, training facilities, ideological centers, and a command center. Historically, the Punjab provincial government has financed parts of this complex. The site is used to radicalise recruits by blending religious education with militant training. Despite being officially imprisoned, LeT’s founder, Hafiz Saeed, has been frequently associated with activities at Muridke.
LeT maintains a presence across Pakistan and PoK, utilising both overt and covert networks. Besides Muridke, LeT operates major bases in Bahawalpur and Rawalkot, where training camps and logistical hubs are located. Following the 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire, LeT shifted some operations to north-western Pakistan, particularly near the Afghan border, to evade international scrutiny.
LeT maintains a political front called Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which runs charities, schools, and medical clinics in cities like Lahore and Karachi, masking militant activities under the guise of social welfare. In 2019, an offshoot called The Resistance Front (TRF) was formed. TRF conducts attacks in Kashmir while providing plausible deniability for Pakistan. Leaders like Sajid Jatt and Salim Rehmani are directly linked to LeT.
LeT militants frequently cross the Line of Control (LoC) from PoK into India, as evidenced by the 2025 Pahalgam attack, where gunmen targeted tourists after infiltrating from Pakistan. Despite being banned by the UN, US, EU, and India, LeT thrives with tacit support from Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies (ISI). Even from custody, Hafiz Saeed continues to orchestrate operations with security provided by the ISI.
Location :Islamabad, Pakistan
First Published:News world The Dens Of Radicalisation: Inside Pakistan’s Jihadi Breeding Grounds | Exclusive
