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At the heart of this ideological mobilisation is Hafiz Talha Saeed, the son of the notorious LeT founder Hafiz Saeed
Top intelligence sources view these developments as a calculated escalation in both ideological mobilisation and tactical proxy warfare. Representational image/Reuters
In a chilling escalation of cross-border provocation, CNN-News18 has learnt of a coordinated effort between the Pakistan military establishment and the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to renew hybrid warfare against India. This latest development suggests that the old guard is passing the torch to a new generation of radical leadership, utilising the sanctity of high-visibility religious gatherings like Eid to mainstream extremist narratives and incite a fresh cycle of proxy activation.
At the heart of this ideological mobilisation is Hafiz Talha Saeedthe son of the notorious LeT founder Hafiz Saeed. Intelligence sources indicate that Talha is now fronting the LeT leadership, ensuring continuity through a renewed and virulent “jihadist” rhetoric. During a major Eid gathering at Lahore’s Shalimar Bagh, Talha delivered a series of inflammatory sermons specifically targeting India and Israel. By framing the conflict as a broader pan-Islamic confrontation, he has successfully expanded the LeT agenda beyond its traditional Kashmir-centric focus. His address was a deliberate attempt to recruit for operations against India, urging Muslims to maintain unity and fight against the powers he claimed were “active against Pakistan”.
The rhetoric at these gatherings was not limited to land-based conflict. Senior LeT figure Saifullah Qasuri took the stage to issue an audacious warning, claiming that Pakistan is currently leading a multi-front battle against Israel, India, and Afghanistan. In a statement that reflects a bizarrely heightened sense of military ambition, Qasuri asserted that while Pakistan became the “king of the skies” last year, the nation is destined to seize “control over the world’s waters” in 2026. Such grandiosity, while strategically questionable, serves as a potent radicalisation tool, aiming to project Pakistan as the primary guide for Muslim leaders globally during this period of perceived existential struggle.
Top intelligence sources view these developments as a calculated escalation in both ideological mobilisation and tactical proxy warfare. By using the emotional and spiritual backdrop of Eid, the LeT is attempting to normalise jihadist narratives within the public consciousness. This strategy of “religious mainstreaming” is designed to facilitate easier recruitment and radicalisation, particularly among the youth. The explicit mention of Israel alongside India indicates a strategic shift aimed at tapping into wider geopolitical tensions, thereby providing a more “legitimate” cover for their continued operations against the Indian state.
The pervasive involvement of the Pakistan security establishment in these gatherings highlights a troubling “nexus” that remains unbroken despite international pressure. This co-ordinated messaging suggests that the hybrid threat targeting India is entering a more aggressive phase. With leadership succession now firmly reinforced through the younger Saeed, the risks of a renewed proxy activation cycle are at an all-time high. For Indian security agencies, these sermons at Shalimar Bagh are not merely empty rhetoric; they are a clear blueprint for a multi-dimensional threat that combines traditional militancy with a sophisticated ideological campaign, designed to destabilise the region under the guise of religious duty.
March 21, 2026, 6:33 PM IST
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