Former LeT Operative Recounts His Training By Hafiz Saeed, Exiting Group: ‘Want To See His End’

A former member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group has shared a personal account of his recruitment into the organisation, his experiences there, and his eventual disillusionment, in a long post on X (formerly Twitter).

Noor Dahri, founder and executive director of UK-based think tank Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism-ITCT, stated that despite his late mother’s wish for him to become a doctor, he was swayed away from university education towards joining LeT by the influence of Hafiz Saeed, the founder of the banned group.

Noor Dahri recounted being tasked with guarding Hafiz Saeed at his permanent residence and head office in Muridkay. He described Hafiz Saeed’s vehicle at the time as a modified blue Toyota Vigo pickup Datsun, equipped with a sleeping area in the rear.

Hafiz Saeed’s speeches served as a powerful motivator, leading numerous young individuals to join LeT and subsequently travel to Afghanistan and Indian Kashmir, Noor Dahri shared.

He noted with regret that “the majority did not return” as he detailed that approximately 500 individuals would travel from across Pakistan to a training camp named Ma’askar Tayyba in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province every Thursday.

Noor Dahri said that his decision to leave LeT was triggered by the stark realities he witnessed in Afghanistan and Pakistani Kashmir, revealing the group’s “true face.” He recalled being labeled a “coward” by LeT commanders upon expressing his desire to depart.

Noor Dahri alleged that LeT currently possesses a force of approximately one million trained militants, establishing it as a significant entity within Pakistan. Accusing Hafiz Saeed of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of Pakistanis by deploying them in what he termed a “war of ashes” to achieve the state’s political objectives, Noor Dahri said, “I wish to see his disgraceful end in my life. In Shaa Allah.”

Concluding his post, Noor Dahri affirmed that he is now in a better place than Hafiz Saeed envisioned for him, believing that “Allah has chosen me to expose the dark faces of Islamists. Alhamdulillah.”