Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI and the government have tightened security around Hafiz Saeed as they fear India might launch a secret operation after the recent deadly attack in Pahalgam. Saeed now lives in a densely populated area of Lahore. Officials believe the crowd offers protection by making it harder for external forces to strike.
Former Commandos Assigned for His Protection
Pakistan has deployed retired commandos from the Special Services Group (SSG) to guard Saeed. These elite personnel now protect all of his properties, including his house in Mohalla Johar, Lahore. Although Saeed is officially in prison, authorities have declared his house a sub-jail. Moreover, they have set up a control room to monitor the area. This center observes all movement within a one-kilometre radius using CCTV cameras equipped with gesture-detection technology.
The Resistance Front Claims Responsibility
The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed the Pahalgam terror attack. This group is believed to be a new face of Lashkar-e-Taiba, which Saeed leads. Indian and U.S. agencies continue to list Saeed as a wanted terrorist. They accuse him of planning the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Now, Indian officials also blame him for the Pahalgam killings.
Saeed Remains Active Despite Jail Term
Saeed is currently serving a 46-year sentence for financing terrorism. In 2022, a court gave him 31 more years in two cases. These added to a 15-year sentence handed down in 2020. However, the court ordered all sentences to run together. Despite his supposed imprisonment since 2019, Saeed remains active. He has made over 24 public appearances in recent years. His latest appearance was in February 2025. He travels with a strong security detail, including former SSG commandos. In fact, Indian intelligence reports place him at terror camps in Muridke, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Saeed Rebrands Group After Article 370
After India revoked Article 370 in 2019, Saeed took swift action. In 2020, he renamed Lashkar-e-Taiba as The Resistance Front. This rebranding helped him avoid direct scrutiny while continuing operations under a new title.
Bishnoi Gang Issues Warning
Meanwhile, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang responded to the Pahalgam attack. On Wednesday, the gang posted Hafiz Saeed’s photo on social media. In the post, they warned that they would “target someone of high value to Pakistan” in revenge.
Attack Escalates Tensions with India
The Pahalgam incident is one of the deadliest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike. Indian officials see this as another attempt by Pakistan to disturb peace in the region. Since the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir had begun to stabilize. However, this attack has pushed tensions between the two nations even higher.
Pakistan Warns India Against Military Action
On Wednesday, Pakistan said it had “credible intelligence” that India might respond with military action. Officials expect this could happen within 24 to 36 hours. Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, posted on social media platform X that India was preparing for an attack. He dismissed India’s claims as “false and baseless.” Furthermore, he warned that Pakistan would respond if India launched any strike.