Indian intelligence report exposes Pakistani government funding for reconstruction of LeT headquarters in Muridke
Islamabad: Recent reports suggest that Pakistan is reconstructing the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s headquarters at Muridke, Markaz Taiba, which was obliterated following a retaliatory strike by the Indian Armed Forces on terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) during Operation Sindoor, aimed at avenging the Pahalgam terror assault. The Pakistani government has reportedly provided LeT with PKR 4 crore in assistance, with an estimated reconstruction cost of approximately PKR 15 crore.
The sophisticated attack launched by India on key structures in Muridke, including accommodation for cadre members, weapons storage, and the LeT’s ‘Umm-ul-Qura’ training blocks, resulted in the complete devastation of the terror infrastructure in the region. The rebuilding of Markaz Taiba at Muridke now sees LeT commanders Maulana Abu Zar and Yunus Shah Bukhari overseeing the reconstruction project.
An Indian intelligence dossier reveals that despite Pakistan’s claims to combat terrorism globally, the Pakistani government is directly funding the rebuilding project for LeT. The dossier further highlights how LeT militants have initiated fundraising campaigns under the guise of “flood relief”, a tactic previously used to divert humanitarian aid towards terrorist activities. This echoes similar instances in 2005 when a significant portion of earthquake relief funds collected by LeT’s front organization, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, were utilized to construct militant camps.
Despite Pakistan’s public assertions on anti-terrorism efforts, the intelligence dossier reinforces Pakistan Army and ISI’s complicity in supporting LeT’s activities, ensuring the survival and resurgence of the terror outfit. Analysts caution that this deliberate effort to reconstruct terrorist infrastructure showcases Islamabad’s double standards in counter-terrorism and hints at the planning of potential cross-border attacks originating from Pakistani soil.
The strategic significance of Markaz Taiba in Muridke lies in its role as a hub for LeT commanders and a center for radicalization, training in intelligence, and arms handling. Established in 2000, Markaz Taiba serves as the primary training center for LeT, offering various courses to cultivate terror entities domestically and internationally. This complex enrolls approximately 1000 students annually, emphasizing its role in training individuals for LeT.
Notably, Markaz Taiba at Muridke has historical links to notorious terrorist activities, including providing intelligence training to the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Under the supervision of Pakistan’s ISI, individuals involved in the Mumbai attacks, such as Ajmal Kasab, underwent intelligence training at this facility. Key conspirators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, including David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, visited Muridke on the directives of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, highlighting the facility’s central role in militant operations.
The ongoing reconstruction of Markaz Taiba in Muridke illustrates Pakistan’s ambiguous stance on counter-terrorism and raises concerns about the potential resurgence of terror activities orchestrated from Pakistani territory. The rebuilding of this terrorist headquarters underscores the intricate web of extremist networks in the region and the imperative for sustained vigilance by counter-terrorism agencies to prevent any resurgence of terrorist threats.