Pak-Based Lashkar Terrorist Abdul Rauf Resurfaces, Issues Fresh Threats to India

A Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, earlier projected by the Pakistan Army as a civilian, has resurfaced in a video issuing fresh and inflammatory threats against India, once again casting doubt on Islamabad’s claims regarding the presence and activities of terror groups operating from its territory.

Abdul Rauf, a close associate of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and a terrorist sanctioned by the United States, was seen delivering a provocative speech in which he openly called for violence against India. Among his remarks was a threatening statement that “Delhi will be made a bride,” language frequently used by extremist groups to signal terror attacks.

Rauf had previously been described as an innocent civilian by the Pakistan Army following India’s Operation Sindoor, during which Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Markaz-e-Taiba headquarters in Muridke was destroyed and several terrorists were killed. In the aftermath of the operation, Rauf was seen leading funeral prayers for the slain militants, with reports indicating the presence of Pakistani Army personnel, a development that had already raised serious concerns.

In his latest address, Rauf dismissed claims that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir had declined, asserting that the conflict would intensify further. He used aggressive rhetoric to signal continued escalation and warned against any perception that the situation was moving towards stability.

The LeT operative also invoked extremist narratives such as ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’, reiterating the group’s long-standing objective of targeting India’s capital. He cited statements attributed to senior Lashkar leaders to reinforce calls for violence and territorial aggression.

Rauf further attempted to downplay India’s military capabilities, making sweeping claims against advanced defence platforms including Rafale fighter jets, the S-400 air defence system and drone technology. He also made assertions portraying Pakistan as the sole nuclear power among Islamic nations, rhetoric analysts say is aimed at sustaining a militant ideology of perceived strength.

Security experts view the resurfacing of Abdul Rauf as fresh evidence of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s continued operational freedom in Pakistan and the ideological environment that enables such groups to issue threats without restraint.