The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Pakistan government have ramped up security measures for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, fearing a possible covert operation, according to a report by The Times of India’s Raj Shekhar Jha, citing sources.
Sources told the publication that former commandos from Pakistan’s Special Service Group (SSG) have been deployed to bolster Saeed’s security detail. Additional personnel have also been stationed at multiple residences, including his house in Mohalla Johar, Lahore. The location, sources said, has been chosen deliberately—it is a densely populated area surrounded by a mosque, a madrassa, and homes of ordinary Pakistani citizens.
Although Saeed is officially imprisoned, his house has been declared a temporary sub-jail. A control room equipped with gesture-detection CCTV cameras has been set up to monitor movement within a one-kilometre radius, the report added.
Saeed, 77, is wanted by both India and the United States for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, as well as for links to the recent killings in Pahalgam. On Wednesday, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang threatened to retaliate for the civilian deaths in Pahalgam. In a social media post that included a photo of Saeed, the group vowed to target “an individual of immense value to Pakistan.”
Currently in the custody of the Pakistan government, Saeed is serving a cumulative 46-year sentence following convictions in seven terror-financing cases. According to an April 7, 2022 court order, he was sentenced to 31 years in two such cases. This was in addition to a 15-year sentence handed down in 2020 for similar charges. All sentences are to run concurrently. Although he has been officially shown as under arrest since 2019, Saeed has made over two dozen public appearances in the past three years, the latest one being in February 2025.
Despite his custodial status, Saeed has often been seen at terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and at camps located in Muridke, Bahawalpur, and Rawalkot. According to the report, he continues to operate under a tight security ring that includes former SSG commandos.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 by India in 2019, Saeed reportedly rebranded Lashkar-e-Taiba as The Resistance Front in 2020.
The ban will apply to all aircraft registered in Pakistan, as well as planes operated, owned, or leased by Pakistan airlines and operators. Military aircraft from Pakistan will also be restricted. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Wednesday evening, with the ban set to last until May 23.
Saudi Arabia, a key ally of India in the Gulf, has also urged both nations to de-escalate tensions.
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Although Saeed is officially imprisoned, his house has been declared a temporary sub-jail. A control room equipped with gesture-detection CCTV cameras has been set up to monitor movement within a one-kilometre radius, the report added.
Saeed, 77, is wanted by both India and the United States for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, as well as for links to the recent killings in Pahalgam. On Wednesday, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang threatened to retaliate for the civilian deaths in Pahalgam. In a social media post that included a photo of Saeed, the group vowed to target “an individual of immense value to Pakistan.”
Currently in the custody of the Pakistan government, Saeed is serving a cumulative 46-year sentence following convictions in seven terror-financing cases. According to an April 7, 2022 court order, he was sentenced to 31 years in two such cases. This was in addition to a 15-year sentence handed down in 2020 for similar charges. All sentences are to run concurrently. Although he has been officially shown as under arrest since 2019, Saeed has made over two dozen public appearances in the past three years, the latest one being in February 2025.
Despite his custodial status, Saeed has often been seen at terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and at camps located in Muridke, Bahawalpur, and Rawalkot. According to the report, he continues to operate under a tight security ring that includes former SSG commandos.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 by India in 2019, Saeed reportedly rebranded Lashkar-e-Taiba as The Resistance Front in 2020.
India-Pakistan: Sky wars
India has closed its airspace to flights operated by Pakistan airlines in a new retaliatory move, amid rising tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.The ban will apply to all aircraft registered in Pakistan, as well as planes operated, owned, or leased by Pakistan airlines and operators. Military aircraft from Pakistan will also be restricted. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Wednesday evening, with the ban set to last until May 23.
De-escalation calls
In the wake of the attack, the United States has expressed concern and is closely monitoring the situation. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized Washington’s efforts to encourage both India and Pakistan to avoid further escalation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to speak with the foreign ministers of both countries in the coming days.Saudi Arabia, a key ally of India in the Gulf, has also urged both nations to de-escalate tensions.
