NEW DELHI, Jan 15: In a rare and significant admission, Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a top commander of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), has confirmed that an Indian military operation in May 2025 successfully decimated the group’s primary headquarters in Muridke.
A report published in a private television channel’s digital edition said that during a recent public address, Rauf admitted that “Operation Sindoor”—launched by India in retaliation for a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam—leveled the Markaz-e-Toiba complex in Muridke.
“The place is finished; it has collapsed. We cannot even sit there anymore,” Rauf stated, as per the report.
It said Rauf’s speech went beyond acknowledging military losses; it provided a blunt confirmation of state-sponsored terrorism.
He claimed that Pakistan has granted “open freedom” for jihadist activities, asserting that the country remains the easiest place in the world for terror recruitment and training due to official state backing.
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The commander also highlighted a deepening strategic alliance with Beijing.
He revealed that China provided Pakistan with near real-time intelligence on Indian movements during the 2025 standoff.
Furthermore, Rauf boasted about the superiority of Chinese military hardware, claiming that global interest in Chinese fighter jets has surged following the conflict.
Operation Sindoor was India’s response to the April 2025 Pahalgam massacre, where 26 civilians were killed by LeT-affiliated terrorists.
Despite the destruction of the Muridke facility, recent reports indicate that the group is already attempting to rebuild.
On January 15, 2026, top LeT leaders, including Hafiz Talha Saeed, reportedly attended a graduation ceremony for a new batch of recruits at the same site, signaling a defiant continuation of their operations under the protective umbrella of the Pakistani establishment. (Agencies)
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