Lashkar-e-Taiba Expanding Outreach Network Through New Markaz, Mosques Across Pakistan: Indian Agencies

Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is allegedly undertaking a major expansion and outreach drive, with Indian agencies gathering information about the construction of seven new markaz and mosques in Sindh province over the past year.

According to Indian intelligence officials, the new facilities are being used as outreach hubs for recruitment, fundraising and mobilisation, while the outfit also attempts to rebuild its network following losses suffered during Operation Sindoor.

Officials alleged that the expansion is being carried out with financial support from the Pakistani establishment, supplemented by fundraising drives and money received from foreign countries in the name of charities.

Seven New Facilities Built in Sindh

An Intelligence Bureau official said the rapid construction of seven markaz and mosque facilities in a single province within a short period indicated a significant expansion of the organisation's infrastructure.

The facilities are allegedly intended to help LeT recruit young people, raise funds and organise mobilisation activities. While the current focus is on Sindh, officials believe similar outreach programmes could eventually be expanded to other parts of Pakistan.

Senior figures associated with the outfit, including Saifullah Kasauri, Talha Hafiz Saeed and Nadeem Faisal, are allegedly leading the initiative and travelling to different areas to hold meetings with operatives.

Indian officials further alleged that these leaders travel in heavily guarded convoys, sometimes with police escorts, which they claimed pointed to support from elements of the Pakistani state. Pakistan's position on these allegations was not immediately available.

Rebuilding After Operation Sindoor

According to officials, the alleged expansion comes after LeT suffered significant losses during Operation Sindoor, including damage to a major facility in Muridke.

The operation followed the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed.

Indian agencies believe the outfit has since stepped up efforts to rebuild its infrastructure and expand its influence through a combination of religious, charitable, political and public outreach activities.

Political Outreach Allegedly Part of Strategy

Officials said LeT was also allegedly using political and politically affiliated groups to front some of its outreach programmes in an attempt to give them greater legitimacy.

The outfit's cadres have reportedly been sent to election rallies and major public events to mingle with people and promote its agenda, officials alleged.

Indian agencies have also reported meetings between people associated with the organisation and political leaders and parties in Pakistan in recent months. According to officials, the alleged objective is to move closer to the mainstream, gain legitimacy and reduce international scrutiny, including scrutiny linked to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Concerns Over Terror Activity and PoK Build-Up

Indian officials said the outreach efforts had not replaced the outfit's alleged terror activities.

They claimed there was a significant presence of terrorists in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including operatives associated with LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, who were allegedly waiting for opportunities to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials also alleged that LeT had been contacting its assets in Jammu and Kashmir and advising them to undertake similar outreach efforts and build connections with political circles to avoid attracting scrutiny.

According to the agencies, such activities could be aimed at expanding recruitment networks and drawing more young people into terror-related activities.

The allegations, if established, would point to a renewed effort by the banned terror outfit to combine public outreach and infrastructure expansion with the rebuilding of its operational networks.