Against the backdrop of heightened diplomatic tensions after the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani flesh presser Malik Ahmad Khan has come to the defence of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Saifullah Khalid, who has been blamed by means of Indian businesses for orchestrating the assault that left 26 civilians, nearly all of whom had been vacationers, useless.
Khan, a key political chief from Pakistan’s Punjab province, was once noticed status subsequent to Saifullah Khalid—alias Saifullah Kasuri—at a public rally on May 28. Talha Saeed, son of LeT founder and 26/11 Mumbai terror assaults mastermind Hafiz Saeed, was once provide on the rally as neatly.
In a extensively shared video on social media, Malik Ahmad Khan is heard condemning India’s fees in opposition to Khalid. “India, without an investigation, has formed a perception that Saifullah is responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack,” he asserted, happening to allege that there is not any evidence to corroborate the fees.
The Indian executive had registered a First Information Report (FIR) in opposition to Saifullah in a while after the grotesque assault, which took place within the picturesque hill the town of Pahalgam. Witnesses described horrific main points, claiming that the attackers demanded to understand the sufferers’ faith, required them to mention the Islamic Kalma, and shot those that had been deemed non-Muslims at point-blank vary.
The Resistance Front (TRF), suspected to be an LeT proxy, therefore took duty for the bloodbath.
Saifullah’s Hate Speech At The Rally
During the rally held in Pakistan, Saifullah Khalid gave an inciting speech through which he praised the terrorists and referred to the terrorist killed all through India’s counter-attack operation as “martyrs.” He additionally hurled venom in opposition to India, Hindus, and the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“I was informed that there was a terrorist attack in India on April 22, and later I came to know that India had referred to me as the mastermind,” Khalid insisted. “We are not going to be intimidated by firing and bullet shots, and we want to die martyrs,” he went on.
Pakistan Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan defends Pahalgam mastermind Saifullah Kasuri and accuses India of being answerable for the Pahalgam terrorist assaultNote : On May -28, Pak flesh presser Malik Ahmed Khan shared the level with Talha pic.twitter.com/99oVQOXAg7
— Naren Mukherjee (@NMukherjee6) June 2, 2025
India’s Reaction: ‘Operation Sindoor’
In reaction, the Indian army started ‘Operation Sindoor’ at the night time of May 7–8, focused on terrorist infrastructure around the border in Pakistan. According to Indian safety assets, greater than 100 terrorists had been eradicated and a number of other terror camps had been diminished to rubble.
The operation mirrored an important ramp-up of India’s anti-terrorism technique and taken global consideration to Pakistan’s repeated abuse of its territory for launching terror assaults in opposition to India.
Diplomatic Fallout
Public endorsement by means of Malik Ahmad Khan of Saifullah Khalid could also be certain to additional become worse strained family members between Islamabad and New Delhi. Indian policymakers have denounced the continuing coverage of unmapped terrorists by means of Pakistan and appealed to the global neighborhood to do so in opposition to the expanding impunity with which terror commanders stroll freely on Pakistani soil.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs will most likely liberate a company diplomatic response within the coming days.
Background: Pahalgam Massacre
- Date of assault: April 22, 2025
- Location: Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir
- Casualties: 26 vacationers killed, a number of others injured
- Perpetrators: The Resistance Front (TRF), affiliated with LeT
- Tactics: Identity-based killings; sufferers requested to recite spiritual textual content ahead of being shot
As international drive is mounting, Pakistan’s home political make stronger for already known terrorists stays a purpose of significant worry referring to its get to the bottom of in countering extremism.