Wanted Worldwide, VVIP In Pakistan: How Islamabad Protects These 7 Terrorists

Last Updated:July 18, 2025, 21:18 IST

Despite global terror listings and India’s repeated warnings, Pakistan continues to shield 7 most-wanted terrorists, from Hafiz Saeed to Dawood Ibrahim.

Pakistan continues to shelter terrorists, including Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim.

Despite repeated diplomatic calls from India and mounting evidence shared with global bodies like the United Nations and FATF (Financial Action Task Force), Pakistan continues to provide safe haven to some of the world’s most wanted terrorists. From masterminds of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to underworld kingpins and terrorists operating across borders, these seven individuals remain free- brazenly protected, directly or indirectly, by Pakistan.

Hafiz Saeed

Founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hafiz Saeed orchestrated the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people and the 2006 Mumbai train bombings that killed over 200. He is also responsible for attacks on the Red Fort in 2000 and countless strikes across Kashmir. Despite being designated a global terrorist by the UN and US and facing a $10 million bounty, Hafiz Saeed lives comfortably in Lahore, often seen attending Friday prayers under armed police protection. In June 2025, Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Hafiz Saeed was under “house arrest"- a claim India dismissed as eyewash. Pakistan’s Lashkar HQ in Muridke was destroyed by India in Operation Sindoor.

Masood Azhar

Masood Azhar, head of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), was behind the Pulwama suicide bombing (2019) and the Uri attack (2016). He was declared a UN global terrorist in 2019 after years of China blocking the designation. In 2024, Masood Azhar resurfaced at a seminary in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, vowing jihad against India- yet Pakistan claimed ignorance. In 2025, Bilawal Bhutto claimed that Masood Azhar “may be in Afghanistan." Intel, however, continues to trace him to Bahawalpur, where he coordinates JeM activities and fundraising.

Dawood Ibrahim

India’s most wanted underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was the mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings that killed over 250 people. He heads the D-Company, a transnational crime syndicate involved in narco-terrorism, extortion and money laundering. Labelled a global terrorist by the US and UN, Dawood Ibrahim has a $25 million bounty. His Karachi address- House No. D-13, Clifton, Karachi- has appeared in multiple dossiers shared with Pakistan and the UN. Yet he continues to live with impunity under the protection of Pakistan’s ISI and reportedly enjoys direct contact with elements of the military.

Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi

A top Lashkar commander, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was one of the primary handlers of the 10 Pakistani gunmen who carried out the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. Captured gunman Ajmal Kasab named him as a key figure. Though briefly jailed under global pressure, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was granted bail in Pakistan and has since vanished from public record. He continues to enjoy military protection in Pakistan’s Punjab province and his assets remain largely untouched. When Pakistan was on the FATF ‘grey list’, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi faced limited sanctions but once that scrutiny faded, he reemerged with impunity. China has repeatedly blocked UN efforts to list him under global sanctions.

Syed Salahuddin

Chief of Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin operates out of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where he frequently leads anti-India rallies, calling for jihad and threatening to turn Kashmir into a “graveyard for Indian soldiers." The US State Department designated him a global terrorist in 2017.

Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal

The Bhatkal brothers- Riyaz and Iqbal- founded the Indian Mujahideen (IM) and have been behind a spate of bombings in Indian cities, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune. While Iqbal is the operational head and bombmaker, Riyaz handles funding and logistics, with help from Gulf-based handlers and Pakistan’s ISI. Both are currently believed to be living in Karachi, where they are said to operate sleeper cells in India through encrypted apps and hawala channels.

Location :

Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published:

News world Wanted Worldwide, VVIP In Pakistan: How Islamabad Protects These 7 Terrorists