The open embrace of extremists is not an aberration in Pakistan — it is a defining feature of the polity of India’s belligerent neighbour. For decades, radical groups and proscribed terror outfits have not merely operated with impunity, but have been steadily woven into the country’s political and social mainstream. Yet, much of the international media chooses to look away. While the global media was quick to amplify Islamabad’s narrative in recent geopolitical flashpoints, it remained curiously silent on the public mobilisation of terror groups within Pakistan’s borders.
Take, for instance, the recent rally in Karachi, where Lashkar-e-Taiba and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat—both internationally designated terrorist organisations—joined ranks with hardline clerics to march in open support of the Pakistani Army. This was not a fringe event; it was a visible display of the state’s continued complicity with violent non-state actors. Despite a trove of publicly available evidence tying groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed to Pakistan’s military and intelligence networks, official denials continue unabated, matched only by the global community’s indifference.
Hafiz Saeed’s nephew and the political masquerade
The recent public appearance of Faisal Nadeem, nephew of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, at the rally in Karachi is not just another footnote in Pakistan’s troubled political narrative. It is, instead, a stark reflection of how deeply terrorism and extremism have been normalised and embedded into the country’s political mainstream. Nadeem, a US-designated global terrorist, stood confidently behind bulletproof glass and addressed a crowd — healthy, vocal, and unmistakably active in Pakistan’s public life.
Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Faisal Nadeem made a public appearance at a political rally organized by PMML, the political front of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The event took place at Jinnah Bagh, Karachi. pic.twitter.com/SxwuYOz8Oc
— Aditya Narayan Singh🇮🇳 (@AdityaN_L) May 12, 2025
The resurrection of a known handler
Nadeem, also known by his alias Abu Qatal, has long been linked with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its operations in India. A handler in several terror strikes in India, Nadeem was said to have been “gunned down in a targeted attack in Pakistan”, according to multiple news reports in March 2025.
However, in recent evidence, Nadeem appears unimpeded in his public and political activity. Multiple video clips shared online show him addressing crowds in Karachi at a rally organised by the Difa-e-Watan Council (DWC) — a platform that unites hardline Islamist groups and radical clerics in support of the Pakistani military. “Despite being listed under the US Specially Designated Global Terrorists, Faisal Nadeem was seen at a Karachi rally,” True Scoop News reported.
This rally was no marginal affair. Organised under the leadership of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), it celebrated the controversial Operation Baniyan-un-Marsus. Leading clerics, including some with long histories of sectarian violence, took the stage to deliver fiery, anti-India rhetoric—all from behind bulletproof glass, a theatrical nod to their perceived threat from across the border.
From militant to mainstream
Nadeem’s presence, though alarming, is consistent with a broader and disturbing trend in Pakistan: the institutionalisation of extremism through political legitimacy. Lashkar-e-Taiba, long accused of functioning as a proxy for the Pakistani Army, has shifted its operations over the years, cloaking itself in social service and political activism. This transformation is typified by the Milli Muslim League (MML), the political wing of LeT, which has fielded candidates in by-elections despite being banned by Pakistan’s Election Commission.
In 2018, the US State Department designated MML and its sister organisation, Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir, as aliases of LeT. “Make no mistake: whatever LeT chooses to call itself, it remains a violent terrorist group,” Nathan Sales, then-Coordinator for Counterterrorism, warned. Along with party chief Saifullah Khalid, seven senior leaders — including Faisal Nadeem — were sanctioned as global terrorists.
However, these designations appear to carry little weight inside Pakistan. “Political association is a fundamental human right,” MML spokesperson Tabish Qayyum told Al Jazeera, claiming the party rejects terrorism and is committed to democratic processes.
State tolerance, even if not state-backed
The rally in Karachi (and others like it) cannot be viewed in isolation. Groups like Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) — the rechristened version of the formerly banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan — continue to hold massive state-protected gatherings. Besides featuring inflammatory speeches targeting minorities, these gatherings and events have also been known to promote militant ideology.
As The Diplomat observed, ASWJ “uses politics to support its campaign of anti-Shia terror” under the protective umbrella of the state.
In Karachi, the stage was shared by radical clerics and known extremists, many of whom have directly or indirectly facilitated violence in the past. Bulletproof glass may suggest fear, but it also underlines their importance — these individuals are not underground fugitives; they are public figures.
This state tolerance is not merely passive. The alignment between the Pakistan Army and radical groups like LeT has long been documented. From sheltering Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad to launching “strategic assets” into India via non-state actors, Pakistan’s deep state has treated terrorism as a tool of foreign and domestic policy.
The price of wilful blindness
Pakistan’s attempts to legitimise radical voices come at a cost. Its inclusion in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list was a direct consequence of the state’s failure to curb terror financing and dismantle extremist infrastructure. Although Pakistan was removed from the FATF list in 2022, events like the Karachi rally raise new doubts over its long-term commitment to international obligations.
For India, the presence of Faisal Nadeem in Pakistan’s political limelight is not just offensive. It is a strategic alarm. Nadeem’s role in past attacks, coupled with his current freedom, fuels the perception that Pakistan continues to use terrorism as statecraft.
Democracy distorted
Pakistan’s democratic process, such as it is, has been distorted by the active involvement of extremist elements. When banned outfits rebrand as political parties and convicted terrorists reappear as “community leaders”, the very foundation of democracy is compromised.
The rise of Faisal Nadeem is not an aberration; it is a calculated feature of Pakistan’s polity. Until the country decisively breaks from this dangerous alliance between politics and extremism, the threat of radical violence — both within and across its borders — will continue to fester.
