'Fact-Free' Jihad? LeT Commander Claims US, Bangladesh Back Mujahideen | Exclusive Details

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 17:52 IST

Top intelligence sources view Hafiz Abdul Rauf’s speech as a deliberate attempt to project strategic confidence in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor

Intelligence analysts note that this 'bravado' is essential for the LeT’s recruitment efforts. (Representational image)

Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a high-ranking commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and head of its “charitable" front, the Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), has resurfaced with a series of inflammatory and factually distorted statements. Speaking on Thursday, Rauf characterised the Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) as the “saviour" of Pakistan while claiming that the geopolitical landscape has shifted irrevocably in Islamabad’s favour. Top intelligence sources in New Delhi view Rauf’s speech as a deliberate attempt to project strategic confidence in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the May 2025 Indian military campaign that decimated key terror command centres in Muridke and Bahawalpur.

The most striking aspect of Rauf’s narrative is his claim of a new “global alliance" backing Pakistan. He asserted that the United States and Bangladesh have now aligned themselves with the Mujahideen’s cause, leaving India “isolated". This specific disinformation appears designed to capitalise on recent regional shifts, such as the change of government in Dhaka and the Trump administration’s transactional approach to South Asian security. By claiming that “the whole world stands by Pakistan", Rauf is attempting to manufacture a sense of legitimacy for the LeT’s activities and reassure a domestic audience currently reeling from India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the resulting economic strain.

Rauf’s rhetoric also leaned heavily on the “May 10 lesson", referring to the date Pakistan sued for a ceasefire following four days of relentless Indian air and missile strikes. In a classic reversal of reality, Rauf claimed that India “learnt its lesson" and would not dare attack for another 50 years. Intelligence analysts note that this “bravado" is essential for the LeT’s recruitment efforts, especially as the group transitions to a dispersed operational model in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to avoid further Indian precision strikes. The terror leader even went as far as to threaten a “befitting response" involving the Pakistani Army should India or Israel engage in any new “misadventure".

Indian intelligence agencies have highlighted this resurfacing as clear evidence of the “state-terror symbiosis" that continues to define Pakistan’s security doctrine. Despite being a US-designated global terrorist, Rauf continues to operate with impunity, often flanked by high-ranking Pakistani officials. His latest propaganda blitz is seen as a tactical response to India’s “Operation Sindoor" suspended status; New Delhi has maintained that the operation has not terminated but is merely on hold until Pakistan credibly abjures terror. By weaving a tale of Bangladeshi and American support, say sources, the LeT is desperately trying to mask its strategic vulnerability and maintain a foothold in the volatile narrative battleground of 2026.

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