Pakistani Politician Defends LeT Commander Accused in Pahalgam Terror Attack Amid Rising Indo-Pak Tensions

Islamabad :In a development that has sparked outrage in India and drawn international attention, senior Pakistani politician Malik Ahmad Khan has openly defended Saifullah Kasuri alias Khalid, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and one of the primary suspects in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists in Kashmir.

Khan was seen sharing the stage with Khalid during a controversial public rally in Punjab, Pakistan, on May 28. The rally, which was also attended by Talha Saeed—son of LeT founder and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed—featured speeches filled with anti-India rhetoric. Khalid, who has been accused by Indian authorities of masterminding the brutal assault in Pahalgam, used the platform to spew vitriol against India, Hindus, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In a video that has since gone viral on social media, Malik Ahmad Khan defended Khalid while addressing reporters outside the rally venue. “India, without an investigation, has formed a perception that Saifullah is responsible for the terror attack in Pahalgam,” Khan said. He further claimed that the FIR filed against Khalid was politically motivated and lacked credible evidence.

The May 28 rally has raised serious concerns over the open patronage being extended to designated terrorists on Pakistani soil. In his speech, Khalid glorified slain terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba, referring to them as “martyrs,” and declared that "we are not going to be scared by bullet shots and firing, and we aspire to die as martyrs."

Khalid also acknowledged that he was aware of India's designation of him as the mastermind behind the Pahalgam massacre. “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 of the attack,” he told the crowd.

The attack in Pahalgam on April 22, described as one of the deadliest in recent years, saw armed militants target a group of tourists. Survivors recounted that the assailants had asked victims to identify their religion and recite the Islamic ‘Kalma.’ Those who failed to do so were shot at point-blank range. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of LeT, claimed responsibility for the massacre.

India retaliated forcefully with ‘Operation Sindoor’—a massive cross-border counter-terror strike conducted on the night of May 7–8. The operation reportedly resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists and the destruction of multiple terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied territory.

The presence of political figures such as Malik Ahmad Khan at extremist rallies and their subsequent public endorsements of wanted terrorists have prompted calls within India for heightened diplomatic and security measures. Experts have warned that such developments not only embolden terrorist outfits but also complicate any potential avenues for regional peace.

Indian authorities have maintained that the evidence against Khalid is substantive and that international agencies have been briefed on the Pahalgam attack and the broader role of Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates in cross-border terrorism.

As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate, the global community is watching closely. India is expected to raise the issue at upcoming international forums, demanding greater accountability from Pakistan for harboring and legitimizing terror operatives under the guise of political or ideological freedom.