New Delhi, Jan 16: In a rare and striking admission, Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a senior commander of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), has confirmed that an Indian military operation carried out in May 2025 destroyed the group’s main headquarters in Muridke.
According to a report published by a private television channel’s digital platform, Rauf acknowledged during a recent public address that India’s “Operation Sindoor” — launched in retaliation for the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam — completely leveled the Markaz-e-Toiba complex.
“The place is finished; it has collapsed. We cannot even sit there anymore,” Rauf said, as quoted in the report.
Beyond admitting the physical damage, Rauf’s remarks offered a blunt acknowledgment of state-backed terrorism in Pakistan. He claimed that jihadist groups enjoy “open freedom” in the country, describing Pakistan as one of the easiest places in the world for terror recruitment and training due to official patronage.
Rauf also shed light on a growing strategic nexus between Pakistan and China. He claimed that during the 2025 military standoff, Beijing provided Pakistan with near real-time intelligence on Indian troop movements. He further asserted that the conflict boosted global interest in Chinese military hardware, particularly fighter jets, which he described as superior.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 civilians were killed by LeT-linked terrorists. While the Muridke facility was severely damaged in the strike, recent intelligence reports suggest efforts are already underway to revive operations at the site.
On January 15, 2026, senior LeT leaders, including Hafiz Talha Saeed, reportedly attended a graduation ceremony for a fresh batch of recruits at the same location, signaling the outfit’s continued activities under the protection of the Pakistani establishment.
