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Video evidence confirms the presence of a US-sanctioned terrorist at the funeral of militants killed in Indian airstrikes
The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check Unit has firmly dismissed Pakistan’s claim that Hafiz Abdur Rauf, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and a US-designated global terrorist, is an “innocent man.”
In a pointed social media post titled “Calling Out Pakistan’s Bluff”, PIB fact-checkers highlighted Rauf’s recent public appearance, where he was seen leading funeral prayers for LeT operatives killed during India’s precision airstrikes conducted under Operation Sindoor on May 7.
“Pakistan’s DG ISPR calls Hafiz Abdur Rauf a ‘common man’. But this so-called ‘innocent man’ is a globally sanctioned terrorist — clearly visible leading funeral rites in the viral footage,” the PIB wrote on platform X (formerly Twitter).
Rauf, who heads the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) — widely seen as the charitable front of LeT — has been on the US Treasury Department’s global terrorist list since 2010. Despite international sanctions, he continues to appear at public gatherings and maintain high-level involvement in extremist networks.
The funeral he led in Muridke, Pakistan, was for three LeT militants eliminated in Indian strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The video, aired by Pakistani media, also showed armed personnel from the Pakistan Army attending the funeral, raising serious concerns about the state’s continued support for banned outfits.
The Indian government has long accused Pakistan of shielding terrorists operating from its soil, and this incident further fuels those concerns. Rauf’s appearance contradicts Pakistan’s official narrative and underscores the gap between its international commitments and on-ground actions.
Who is Hafiz Abdur Rauf?
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Senior LeT commander since the 1990s
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Leader of FIF, LeT’s humanitarian wing used for funding and recruitment
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Designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. in 2010
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Allegedly involved in logistics and planning support for LeT operations
India’s Operation Sindoor, launched earlier this month, dealt a heavy blow to terror launchpads across the border and revealed the presence of key operatives like Rauf — a move being seen as both a tactical and symbolic success.
While Pakistan’s military sought to portray Rauf as a religious leader and ordinary citizen, Indian officials say the facts — and the footage — speak for themselves.
Background on Hafiz Abdur Rauf:
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Senior LeT leader since the late 1990s
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Heads Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), LeT’s humanitarian front
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Blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury and other international bodies for financing and supporting terrorism
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Allegedly uses relief work to promote radicalization and recruitment for LeT
India has repeatedly called on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for allowing terrorists like Rauf to operate freely and participate in public events, despite global sanctions.(pressmediaofindia.com)