Pakistan has tried to debunk the fact that Hafiz Abdur Rauf, who led the funeral of terrorists killed in the recent Operation Sindoor strikes, is a US-designated global terrorist and senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader
NEW DELHI — Pakistan has tried to debunk the fact that Hafiz Abdur Rauf, who
led the funeral of terrorists killed in the recent Operation Sindoor strikes,
is a US-designated global terrorist and senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader,
terming him as "a common family man".
Behind Abdur Rauf, high-ranking Pakistani military
officers stood in solemn attendance, and coffins draped in Pakistan's national
flag underscored what Indian officials called the state's overt support for
terrorism.
At a press briefing in New Delhi, Indian officials shared
a photograph of Rauf leading the funeral procession, accompanied by Pakistan
Army officers in uniform.
The image has since gone viral, sparking widespread
debate and outrage. Rauf, who is the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief
Masood Azhar, is a US Treasury-designated Specially Designated Global Terrorist
under OFAC sanctions, with a known history of managing LeT finances and
propaganda.
Related: American-Jewish community thanks India for eliminating Islamist terrorist Abdul Rauf Azhar
Pakistan's military attempted to downplay the revelation,
with the DGISPR describing Rauf as a "common family man" and a
"preacher". His national identity card was presented to the media in
an effort to portray him as a non-combatant.
However, official documentation -- including Rauf's CNIC
number (35202-5400413-9) and birthdate (March 25, 1973) -- matched those listed
in the US sanctions.
During a recent media briefing on Operation Sindoor,
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri questioned Pakistan's narrative while
holding the damning photo, stating, "They claim that only civilians were
killed in the strikes on the 7th of May. We have made the point very clearly
that all attacks on the morning of 7th May were against carefully selected
terrorist infrastructure, terrorist targets?"
The Pakistani military has also tried to confuse the
issue by conflating Hafiz Abdur Rauf with Abdul Rauf Azhar, another of Masood
Azhar's brothers and a senior Jaish-e-Mohammed commander, who was reportedly
eliminated in Operation Sindoor.
They questioned how someone declared dead by India could
lead a funeral later the same day. However, the two are separate individuals,
both on international watchlists, and both deeply embedded in the terror
ecosystem of Pakistan.
Rauf Azhar, JeM's operations chief, was a key planner of
the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and played a central role in the 2001 Parliament
attack, 2016 Pathankot airbase strike, and 2019 Pulwama bombing.
Meanwhile, the presence of Pakistani top brass at the
funeral further reinforced allegations of institutional support for terrorists.
Among those in attendance were Lt Gen Fayyaz Hussain
Shah, Corps Commander, IV Corps, Lahore; Maj Gen Rao Imran Sartaj, GOC, 11
Infantry Division; Brig Mohammad Furqan Shabbir, Commander, 15 Hybrid
Mechanised Brigade; Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar; and Punjab MLA Malik Sohaib
Ahmed Bherth.
According to the US Treasury, Hafiz Abdur Rauf worked
directly under LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, managing fundraising and training
operations. He has also been a key figure in Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation
(FIF), a LeT front posing as a charity but used to finance terrorist
activities.
Both FIF and Rauf were sanctioned by the US on November
24, 2010, following Indian intelligence inputs post the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The visuals from Muridke -- where the funeral was held --
depict a state ceremony, not a private religious service.
"It is not clear to us, in fact, seeing some of the
coverage of the aftereffects of these strikes, including the funerals for the
terrorists that were held yesterday. I think a lot of you have seen the reports
and the coverage in the media. If only civilians, or if any civilians were
killed in these attacks, I wonder what message this picture actually sends to
all of you. This is a question that is worth asking," Misri had said while
holding a photograph that showed UN-proscribed Pakistani terrorist group
Lashkar-e-Taiba's top Commander Hafiz Abdur Rauf leading the funeral prayers of
LeT terrorists killed in Indian airstrikes in Muridke on Wednesday.
The fallout is another example of how Pakistan shields
designated terror groups and fosters terrorism.
