In a controversial display of open support, senior Pakistani politician Malik Ahmad Khan has publicly defended Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Khalid, who has been linked to the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, that claimed 26 lives.
The endorsement came during a rally held in Pakistan’s Punjab province on May 28, where Khalid launched a hate-filled tirade against India.
Khan, who shared the stage with Khalid at the rally, downplayed Indian allegations and dismissed the accusations as unproven. “India, without an investigation, has formed a perception that Saifullah is responsible for the terror attack in Pahalgam,” Khan told reporters, as seen in a video that has now gone viral on social media.
Have a look at his statement here:
He further said, “Indian authorities got a First Information Report (FIR) registered against Saifullah within days of the Pahalgam terror attack, and there is no evidence to support their accusations.” Khan went on to accuse Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being behind various terror incidents within India, calling for an “impartial investigation” into the April 22 massacre.
Khalid Praises ‘Martyrs’, Vows to Fight India
During his public address, Khalid, a top LeT commander, referred to the Pakistani terrorists killed in India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor as “martyrs”. He said, “We are not going to be scared by bullet shots and firing, and we aspire to die as martyrs.”
Referring to Indian allegations, Khalid added, “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.”
The May 28 rally also featured Talha Saeed, son of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, further stoking outrage. Survivors of the Pahalgam attack said the assailants specifically targeted non-Muslims, forcing them to recite Islamic verses before executing them.
India’s Operation Sindoor destroyed multiple terror camps in Pakistan, reportedly killing over 100 militants.
