Pakistan dubunks fact that Hafiz Rauf is global terrorist

 

 

 

PAKISTAN has tried to debunk the fact that Hafiz Abdur Rauf, who led the funeral of terrorists killed in the recent ‘Operation Sindoor’ strikes, is a US-designated global terrorist and senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader, terming him as “a common family man”. Behind Abdur Rauf, high-ranking Pakistani military officers stood in solemn attendance, and coffins draped in Pakistan’s national flag underscored what Indian officials called the state’s overt support for terrorism. At a press briefing in New Delhi, Indian officials shared a photograph of Rauf leading the funeral procession, accompanied by Pakistan Army officers in uniform.

 

The image has since gone viral, sparking widespread debate and outrage. Rauf, who is the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, is a US Treasury-designated Specially Designated Global Terrorist under OFAC sanctions, with a known history of managing LeT finances and propaganda. Pakistan’s military attempted to downplay the revelation, with the DGISPR describing Rauf as a “common family man” and a “preacher”. His national identity card was presented to the media in an effort to portray him as a non-combatant. However, official documentation -- including Rauf’s CNIC number (35202-5400413-9) and birthdate (March 25, 1973) -- matched those listed in the US sanctions. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri questioned Pakistan’s narrative while holding the damning photo, stating, “They claim that only civilians were killed in the strikes on the 7th of May. We have made the point very clearly that all attacks on the morning of 7th May were against carefully selected terrorist infrastructure, terrorist targets?”