Hina Rabbani Khar's On-Air Denial of US-Designated Terrorist Sparks Controversy
Former Pakistani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, encountered a tense moment during a live Al Jazeera interview. Khar attempted to dismiss reports of the presence of US-designated terrorist Hafiz Abdur Rauf at a militant's funeral in Pakistan. This incident quickly gained attention online, exposing contradictions in Pakistan's narrative and highlighting its unclear position on individuals sanctioned internationally.
While being interviewed, Khar asserted that the person seen leading funeral prayers for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, who were killed in India’s Operation Sindoor, was not Hafiz Abdur Rauf, as designated by the US Treasury and the UN Security Council. She argued that numerous people in Pakistan share that name, labeling the man a "common citizen" and rejecting Indian allegations.
However, the Al Jazeera anchor challenged Khar's claim by referencing a briefing by the Pakistani military, which did not refute the person's identity. The military had actually described him as a political party member and released a national ID number that aligned with the listing in the US sanctions database, contradicting Khar's statement.
Khar sought to mitigate the situation by referring to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of the Pakistani Army, which she claimed had clarified that the man was not the proscribed individual. Yet, the anchor pointed out that the army had not denied the individual's identity, but instead diverted by mentioning a political connection.
This incident has intensified scrutiny on Pakistan's inaction against listed terrorists operating openly within its territory. Indian Army sources previously confirmed that Pakistani military personnel were present at the funeral where Hafiz Abdur Rauf led prayers, followed by chants of "Al Jihad."
Rauf is a prominent figure within Lashkar-e-Taiba and its front organization Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), closely associated with LeT founder Hafiz Saeed. Although not related by blood, Rauf is recognized as an ideological and operational leader in the group. Despite being globally blacklisted, including under the UN's 1267 sanctions and US designations, he continues to appear publicly at events.
India’s Press Information Bureau had previously countered Pakistan's denial by sharing links to US and UN sanctions lists that confirmed Rauf's identity. The controversy arose following Operation Sindoor, carried out in response to the killing of Indian tourists in Pahalgam by Pakistan-backed militants, again revealing the connections between Pakistan's state machinery and banned terror groups.
The awkward live television moment has since gone viral, with critics accusing Pakistan of consistently providing safe havens and cover for individuals sanctioned on a global scale.
