The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group is actively rebuilding its destroyed headquarters, Markaz Taiba in Muridke, Pakistan’s Punjab province. This follows a major Indian airstrike on May 7 during Operation Sindoor, which targeted key terror infrastructure, a dossier accessed exclusively by NDTV reveals.
Indian Air Force Delivers Major Strike
In the early hours of May 7, Indian Mirage fighter jets crossed into Pakistan’s Punjab region and targeted the Markaz Taiba campus. The airstrike hit three main structures: a red multi-story block used for cadre accommodation and weapons storage, and two yellow buildings known as Umm-ul-Qura, serving as training centers and senior commander residences.
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The attack left only skeletal remains of the buildings standing. Analysts called the strike the most significant blow to Lashkar’s infrastructure since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Demolition and Reconstruction Begins(Lashkar-e-Taiba Rebuilding)
By August 18, LeT began clearing the already damaged campus using heavy machinery. Intelligence videos show cadres overseeing the rubble-clearance efforts. On September 4, the yellow Umm-ul-Qura block was completely demolished, followed by the red building three days later.
The group now plans to rebuild the complex, aiming to officially reopen it on February 5, 2026, to coincide with Kashmir Solidarity Day and its annual convention. The new Markaz Taiba is expected to again serve as the core for training, indoctrination, and operational planning.
Leadership Driving the Rebuild
The rebuilding effort is personally overseen by Maulana Abu Zar, Markaz Taiba’s director and LeT’s chief trainer, known as Ustad ul Mujahiddin. Operational control is in the hands of Yunus Shah Bukhari, a senior LeT commander.
During the rebuilding process, LeT temporarily shifted its training operations to Markaz Aqsa in Bahawalpur and Markaz Yarmouk in Patoki, under Abdul Rashid Mohsin, a trusted aide of deputy chief Saifullah Kasuri.
Pakistan’s Involvement
The dossier reveals that Pakistan’s government publicly promised financial support to LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), whose facilities were destroyed during Operation Sindoor.
In August, LeT received around PKR 4 crore (approximately Rs 1.25 crore) from Islamabad as seed funding. Insiders estimate the total reconstruction cost will exceed PKR 15 crore (about Rs 4.7 crore).
This exposes the double standard of Pakistan’s counterterrorism stance. While claiming to fight extremism globally, the state actively supports groups engaged in cross-border violence against India.
Fundraising Disguised as Humanitarian Aid
To cover funding gaps, LeT has launched a fundraising campaign disguised as flood relief efforts. Cadres, often accompanied by Pakistani Rangers, stage photo-ops while distributing token relief supplies, while the majority of funds are diverted to rebuild Markaz Taiba.
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This tactic mirrors past activities. Following the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), LeT (then operating as Jamaat-ud-Dawa) raised billions in the name of humanitarian aid. Investigations later revealed that around 80% of those funds were used to build terror infrastructure, including Markaz Abbas in Kotli, which was also destroyed in Operation Sindoor.
The Proxy War Continues
Despite the success of Operation Sindoor, LeT’s swift efforts to rebuild show its resilience. The plan to reopen the rebuilt Markaz by February 2026 serves as both defiance and propaganda, emphasizing its role in Pakistan’s proxy war against India.
Exclusive: All three buildings of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) headquarters in Muridke, which were struck by the Indian Air Force on 7th May 2025, have now been completely demolished by the LeT for reconstruction.
— Shivank Mishra 🇮🇳 (@shivank_8mishra) September 7, 2025
Latest visuals show debris scattered across the Markaz Taiba complex.… pic.twitter.com/3F1NFESGHf
LeT now operates various proxy fronts, including The Resistance Front (TRF), People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), Kashmir Tigers, and Mountain Warriors of Kashmir (MWK). These groups allow Islamabad plausible deniability while continuing anti-India terror activities.
The case of Muridke illustrates the close and dangerous relationship between Pakistan’s state apparatus and terror groups. Far from fighting extremism, Pakistan’s support enables groups like LeT to survive, regroup, and expand.
Background of Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which left 26 civilians dead. On May 7, Indian forces launched airstrikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. The operation destroyed multiple camps of LeT, JeM, and Hizbul Mujahideen, killing over 100 terrorists.
Following the operation, Pakistan responded by launching drones and missiles into India, which were intercepted. The two countries later agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.
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