Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Hafiz Talha Saeed, son of 26/11 mastermind and LeT chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, has once again resorted to proclaiming a jihadist anti-India rhetoric in a speech made at Pakistan’s Sheikhupura.In his speech, Saeed said he was among those who had taken an oath to wage jihad and would continue the campaign and make sacrifices. “We are those who took the pledge of jihad at the hands of the Noble Prophet Muhammad,” he said, adding that the campaign would continue as long as they remained alive and capable of carrying it out.Saeed then turned to India, claiming that Muslims had ruled the subcontinent for 500 years. He questioned the basis on which what he called “anti-Pakistan rulers” in Delhi spoke about Pakistan and asked whether they had forgotten “who Delhi belonged to” and who had controlled other parts of India in the past.He insisted that his remarks were based on what he described as historical facts and said he was not making claims contrary to history or facts.“Muslims ruled India for 500 years. On what basis do the enemy rulers of Pakistan, sitting in Delhi, claim they have forgotten history, who Delhi belonged to, and who all these areas of India belonged to? My respected brothers, I am not saying anything for the sake of praise, anything that is false, or anything that goes against reality. Whatever I say, I say it with conviction.” he loudly proclaimed in his speechThe LeT leader also praised Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, highlighting his status as a Hafiz of the Quran. Saeed said he was grateful that Pakistan had an Army chief and field marshal who had memorised the Quran, and claimed Munir had “once again revived” the concepts of “Faith, Piety, and Jihad for the cause of Allah”.The remarks have drawn renewed attention to allegations of links between Pakistan’s military establishment and LeT-linked networks. Saeed’s praise for Munir, however, does not by itself establish a formal command or operational relationship between the Pakistani state and the banned outfit but does raise doubts on the continued space afforded to jihadist figures in Pakistan.
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Lashkar-e-Taiba is designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations and has been responsible for major attacks against India, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Talha Saeed has also been designated a terrorist by India and the United States over his alleged role in LeT’s recruitment, propaganda, fundraising and other activities.
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