Armed troops, drones, CCTV: How Pakistan is scrambling to protect Hafiz Saeed fearing covert Indian strike

Hafiz Saeed - File Photo

Amid soaring tensions with India following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan has quietly ramped up security around UN-designated terrorist and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed—fearing a possible Indian covert strike. The move comes as LeT’s offshoot – The Resistance Front – has claimed responsibility for the April 22 terror attack which claimed 26 lives.

Now, Saeed, who Pakistan says is “imprisoned”, is being treated like a high-value asset—guarded by layers of military-grade security, according to multiple media reports.

According to a Times of India report, Islamabad has beefed up security arrangements outside Saeed’s residence in Lahore and former commandos from the Special Service Group have been deployed at his houses, including the one in Mohalla Johar in Lahore.

The report further mentioned that the 77-year-old wanted terrorist has been kept in a densely populated area.

Meanwhile, a report by India Today mentioned that Saeed was being guarded by armed personnel from the Pakistani Armed Forces and his residence monitored by drones. CCTV cameras have been installed on roads within a 4-km radius of his residence, the report claimed.

Hafiz Saeed’s continued relevance in Pakistan, despite being listed as UN-designated global terrorist and carrying a $10 million US bounty for the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, is emblematic of Islamabad’s deeply entrenched terror infrastructure. His influence, political reach (via the banned Milli Muslim League), and institutional protection reflect the nexus between Pakistan’s deep state and terror elements.

Fear of another ‘Balakot-style’ operation — and ‘unexplained’ killings

The security enhancement for Saeed also comes in wake of the mysterious killing of several terrorists in Pakistan in the last two years. Abu Qatal, a close aide of Saeed, was allegedly shot dead by identified assailants in Jhelum district of Pakistan’s Punjab province last month.

Similarly, Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman, who identified himself as the secretary general of the United Jihad Council, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in March 2024.

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Shahid Latif, believed to be the mastermind behind the 2016 Pathankot attack, was gunned down in Sialkot in October 2023.

Reports suggest that Pakistan’s internal security establishment is increasingly wary of a Balakot-style surgical strike or covert commando operation, not just targeting infrastructure, but potentially eliminating high-value terror masterminds.

The heightened security arrangement reflects Islamabad’s concerns over potential targeted action from India, especially as New Delhi continues to ramp up diplomatic pressure and signal a zero-tolerance stance on cross-border terror.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Indian armed forces have his full confidence and “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing” of India’s response.

India has time and again highlighted Saeed’s role in plotting terror attacks — from the 2008 Mumbai massacre to continued infiltration attempts in Kashmir. His protection now, even under the guise of imprisonment, further exposes Pakistan’s duplicity — publicly claiming to combat terrorism while safeguarding its chief architects.