Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 13: Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) are reportedly facing growing internal unrest following heavy setbacks suffered during India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, intelligence officials said.
According to sources, both organisations have struggled to recover after the Indian armed forces targeted terror infrastructure in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir that claimed 26 lives. While Jaish-e-Mohammad is said to be attempting to rebuild its operational network, Lashkar-e-Tayiba has shown signs of organisational paralysis and internal disagreement.
Officials claim that the Lashkar leadership has remained largely unresponsive to Pakistan’s military establishment and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) over the past several weeks. Hafiz Saeed, the founder and chief of the outfit, has reportedly withdrawn from public interaction and has avoided direct engagement with cadres.
At the same time, several Lashkar commanders have allegedly begun openly acknowledging the damage suffered by the group during the Indian military operation, signalling a widening disconnect within the organisation.
Intelligence agencies have also observed little to no activity at the Muridke training facility, once considered one of the outfit’s key operational centres. Efforts by the Pakistan establishment to revive the facility have reportedly failed to gain support from Lashkar’s senior leadership or field commanders.
An Intelligence Bureau official indicated that the silence from the group may reflect growing resentment within the ranks over attempts by Pakistan’s military establishment to portray itself as victorious after ‘Operation Sindoor’.
“Initially, the leadership appeared willing to align with the narrative being promoted by the army and ISI. However, that equation now seems to be changing. Many within the organisation do not want the military establishment to claim credit for a conflict they believe exposed serious vulnerabilities,” the official said.
Officials further claimed that frustration among cadres has intensified over Pakistan’s tensions with the Afghan Taliban and alleged pressure on Lashkar operatives to cooperate with extremist factions, including the Islamic State, in operations against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Sources described the current situation as unprecedented, noting that Lashkar-e-Tayiba has historically maintained close alignment with Pakistan’s security establishment. Analysts say this apparent strain marks a significant shift in the relationship between the outfit and the Pakistani military-intelligence apparatus.
Officials also referred to past tensions within Jaish-e-Mohammad, including allegations linking elements of the outfit to attempts on former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s life. However, they noted that Lashkar had generally avoided direct confrontation with the establishment until now.
According to intelligence assessments, concerns about Lashkar cadres drifting towards Afghanistan and joining Taliban-linked operations had emerged even before the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Officials alleged that the ISI subsequently redirected the group’s focus to prevent involvement in conflicts that could have complicated Pakistan’s international position.
Security analysts now believe that ‘Operation Sindoor’ may have not only damaged physical terror infrastructure but also weakened the morale and cohesion of groups operating from across the border.
“If this discontent within Lashkar-e-Tayiba escalates into open defiance, it could significantly alter the long-standing equation between the terror outfit and Pakistan’s security establishment,” an official said.