New Delhi: In a major embarrassment for Pakistan, the country’s military spokesperson, Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), has drawn scrutiny after publicly defending a US-designated terrorist as an “innocent family man” during a press briefing. The man in question, Hafiz Abdur Rauf, has long been identified by international agencies as a key Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative.
The controversy erupted when the DG ISPR, addressing reporters in Islamabad, dismissed viral images of Abdur Rauf leading funeral prayers alongside senior Pakistani military officials. The funeral, held in Muridke, was for terrorists killed in Indian strikes during Operation Sindoor, which targeted LeT infrastructure. In an attempt to quell allegations of state sponsorship of terrorism, the ISPR chief presented Rauf’s National Identity Card (NIC), claiming he was merely a preacher and welfare worker associated with a political party.
A fact check embarrasses Pak
However, fact-checks conducted soon after the briefing revealed that the details on the NIC — including name, date of birth, and identification number — matched those of Hafiz Abdur Rauf, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under US Treasury Department sanctions. Rauf has been sanctioned since 2010 for his integral role in LeT’s fundraising apparatus and activities under its charitable front, Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF).
In his press briefing, Pakistan’s DG ISPR claimed that the viral image of the LeT terrorist at a funeral with other army men is actually an innocent family man and a preacher.
He shared his National ID card to ‘prove’ how he is a simple party worker (see 4:30), however the… pic.twitter.com/dCXgWwmhOx
— Journalist V (@OnTheNewsBeat) May 11, 2025
A post on social media by a user named Journalist V, who investigated the claims by Chaudhry: “In his press briefing, Pakistan’s DG ISPR claimed that the viral image of the LeT terrorist at a funeral with other army men is actually an innocent family man and a preacher. He shared his National ID card to ‘prove’ how he is a simple party worker, however the details of the person match exactly, including date of birth and even National ID number, with the one HAFIZ ABDUR RAUF who is a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under OFAC sanctions.”
According to the US Treasury note on his designation, which the Journalist V further shared, read: “Few individuals are more integral to LET’s fundraising than Hafiz Abdur Rauf and Mian Abdullah.”
Videos of funeral go viral
The situation took a turn when videos from the Muridke funeral surfaced, showing Rauf leading prayers over terrorists draped in Pakistani national flags, flanked by high-ranking military and police officials. Among the attendees were Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah (Corps Commander, IV Corps, Lahore), Major General Rao Imran Sartaj (GOC, 11 Infantry Division), and Punjab’s Inspector General of Police, Dr Usman Anwar.
Indian armed forces, in a joint press conference on Sunday, highlighted these developments as “unequivocal proof” of Pakistan’s ongoing support to proscribed terrorist groups. Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, speaking alongside counterparts from the Indian Navy and Air Force, underlined the contradiction between Pakistan’s global anti-terror commitments and its domestic glorification of designated terrorists.
The timing of the gaffe is critical. India is preparing to present fresh evidence of Pakistan’s terror links at the United Nations Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee meeting next week. New Delhi is also expected to push for Pakistan’s re-listing on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, following what officials term as “clear breach” of international sanctions obligations.
