Hafiz Saeed Gets 4X Security After J&K Attack, Pakistan Army Deployed: Sources

In yet another blatant display of state complicity with terrorism, the Pakistan government has significantly escalated security for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, widely believed to be the mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 innocent civilians. According to an India Today exclusive, Pakistan has increased Saeed’s security nearly fourfold, deploying the full might of the Pakistan Armed Forces to shield a globally designated terrorist—right in the heart of Lahore.

Saeed’s residence in Johar Town, a densely populated neighborhood of Lahore, has been transformed into an armed fortress. The Pakistan Army, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and Lashkar operatives are working hand-in-glove to ensure his complete protection. Drone surveillance now blankets the area, roads in a 4-kilometre radius are lined with high-resolution CCTV cameras, and civilian movement near the premises has been entirely banned. The use of private or commercial drones in the area has also been prohibited.

A Terrorist Sheltered by the State

This massive security upgrade was implemented almost immediately after the Pahalgam terror strike, which was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF)—a known proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, intelligence inputs cited by Indian agencies firmly indicate that Hafiz Saeed played a central role in orchestrating the attack. The brazen attack has reignited diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, yet Pakistan continues to openly shelter the perpetrator, under the garb of so-called “protective custody.”

Despite being a UN- and US-designated global terrorist with a $10 million bounty on his head, Hafiz Saeed enjoys a life of comfort and impunity under the protection of the very state that claims to fight terrorism. Rather than confining him to a high-security prison, Pakistan is now converting his residence into a “sub-jail”, allowing him to operate freely while pretending he is in custody.

In an exclusive, India Today accessed satellite imagery and video footage of Saeed’s fortified compound. The visuals expose the three main structures within the premises including a heavily guarded residence, a sprawling mosque and madrasa complex used as his operational base and a newly constructed private park adjacent to the compound.

The footage clearly shows Pakistani security personnel posted 24×7, completely contradicting Islamabad’s repeated lies that Saeed is incarcerated for terror-financing.

History of Security Upgrades

This is not the first time the Pakistani establishment has rallied to protect Hafiz Saeed. In 2021, after a car bomb detonated near his house, killing three people, security was significantly ramped up. Just last month, after his aide Abu Qatal was eliminated, Pakistani intelligence agencies conducted another comprehensive review of his security setup effectively treating him like a high-value state asset rather than a wanted terrorist.

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