Terrorists Safe Havens: The Reality of Pakistan

Pakistan shelters terrorists and provides safe havens for banned organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Despite international scrutiny, these groups continue to operate freely in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, raising serious security concerns for India and the global community

Terrorists are often seen moving freely in Pakistan and POJK. Organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen conduct recruitment drives, arms training, and public gatherings without any significant resistance from Pakistani authorities.

Several global terrorist figures like Hafiz Saeed live openly in Pakistan. In this article, I’m going to expose how Pakistan shelters terrorists of banned outfits who address public gatherings, deliver hate speeches, and call for jihad against India without any restrictions from Pakistani agencies.

Recent Key Incidents

On September 6, 2013, in Islamabad, Hafiz Saeed appeared openly at a rally, denouncing India as a terrorist state. More than 10,000 people gathered, chanting “Jihad!” (“Holy war”) and “War will continue until the liberation of Kashmir.” In a similar incident On June 6, 2016, in Islamabad, Hafiz Saeed organized a rally against a US-led drone strike. He attacked India and the United States, calling India’s Chabahar deal with Iran the “biggest attack against Pakistan.” The rally featured massive anti-India slogans.

On November 29, 2024, UNSC-sanctioned LeT terrorist Abdul Rahman Makki delivered a speech in a public gathering and prayer at Noorpur Kasur, Pakistan. Thankfully, he died of a heart attack on December 27, 2024, in Lahore. Makki was the Naib Ameer of the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba and the second-in-command of Jamaat-ud-Dawah. He was also the cousin and brother-in-law of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, one of India’s most wanted terrorists.

On February 20, 2023, unidentified gunmen shot and killed Bashir Ahmad Peer, also known as Imtiyaz Alam, a senior commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, in Pakistan. Two days later, on February 22, Hizbul Mujahideen chief and United Jihad Council head Syed Salahuddin publicly led Peer’s funeral prayers in Lahore.

During the ceremony, Salahuddin, surrounded by heavily armed bodyguards, actively vowed to intensify attacks against India, boldly declaring that jihad will persist until “India is destroyed.” His public appearance, despite being a UN-designated global terrorist, raised serious concerns about Pakistan’s commitment to counter-terrorism, especially after its removal from the FATF Grey List. Pakistan’s security agencies not only allowed his public rally but also provided state protection.

On August 15, 2019, Pakistan-based terror group Hizbul Mujahideen organized a protest against India outside the Muzaffarabad Press Club in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The protest saw participation from Khalid, the deputy chief of HM, made a public call for ‘Jihad’ against India. The demonstration was part of Hizbul Mujahideen’s long-standing role in orchestrating terrorist attacks in India, using Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a launchpad for cross-border terrorism.

LeT/JuD Commander Rizwan Hanif with armed terrorists in Hajira town of POK with the emblem of the Hamas political wing during a public gathering in support of Hamas.

LeT terrorist Hafiz Talha Saeed, son of 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, delivered a provocative speech at a rally in Lahore on Pakistan’s ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ on February 5, 2025. He vowed to “liberate Kashmir from India at any cost.”

On March 8, 2025, UAPA-designated Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Hafiz Talha Saeed attended an annual school function as a chief guest. A terrorist manipulates young minds in an educational institution, spreading ideological propaganda where children should be learning fundamental values. The level of brainwashing occurring in these settings is beyond imagination.

Hafiz Saeed has wielded significant political clout in Pakistan’s elections. Building on this influence, his son, Hafiz Talha Saeed, contested the 2024 general elections from a Lahore constituency under the banner of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML). This party maintains direct links to Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), which in turn connects to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Despite mounting global pressure, Pakistan has continued to shield Hafiz Saeed and his network, allowing them to remain politically entrenched. By actively fielding his organization’s candidates in elections, Pakistan has further fueled doubts about its counterterrorism resolve.

On February 5, 2025, Hamas terrorists attended an anti-India event in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Dr. Khalid Al-Qadoumi, Hamas’s representative in Iran, participated in the meeting in his first-ever visit to PoK. The event titled “Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation ‘Al Aqsa Flood’ Conference” took place in Rawalakot, which was also attended by top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Lashkar Deputy Chief Saifullah Kasuri with Colonel Zahid Zareen Khattak and other officers of the Pak Rangers during an event in Kanganpur, Punjab.

A few days ago, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Saifullah Kasuri was seen delivering a provocative speech at a nationwide protest against Israel organised by PMML. During his address, Kasuri openly called for the world to declare Israel a terrorist nation. The event, which saw the participation of terrorist like Talha Saeed, highlighted how banned terror groups continue to operate freely in Pakistan

An article from India Today reports on the significant expansion of JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. This development coincided with Pakistan’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s Grey List in October 2022. JeM organized a gathering at this location as recently as February 16, 2025. Notably, the event was part of the ‘Infaq fi Sabilillah’ campaign and took place in the central hall of this campus. Moreover, Talha al-Saif, one of JeM’s top leaders, addressed the attendees JeM uses the Bahawalpur HQ primarily for recruitment and fundraising

The Pakistani government actively shelters terrorists and supports their operations, as numerous reports have documented. Despite Pakistan’s public claims of combating terrorism, the ground reality presents a different picture. The country’s intelligence agency provides logistical and financial support to terrorist groups, helping them survive and expand. Pakistan shelters terrorists under the guise of counterterrorism efforts and has failed to implement substantial measures to dismantle these terror networks

Pakistan remains a breeding ground for globally designated terrorists, actively undermining international security while claiming to fight terrorism. Without strict action and accountability, these terror elements will continue to thrive under state-backed protection.