Saifullah Kasuri said Pakistan’s army would protect Saudi holy sites and “erase Israel from the world map,” The Times of India reported.
Saifullah Kasuri, deputy chief of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, threatened Israel while speaking at the Khatam-e-Nabuwat Conference in Pakistan last week. He said the Pakistani army would defend Saudi Arabia’s holy sites and “erase Israel from the world map,” The Times of India reported.
The newspaper describes Kasuri as a designated terrorist and one of the masterminds of the Pahalgam attack. It says he has taken part in public gatherings since the attack to raise funds and recruit young people. The report also refers to meetings in Pakistan over the past year between senior Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed members and Hamas officials.
The Times of India says videos posted by pro-Lashkar accounts show Kasuri at public events accompanied by armed guards and uniformed men. The newspaper also reported that he spoke against the Abraham Accords at a rally in Lahore in late May. His latest remarks came amid continuing regional conflict and heightened anti-Israel rhetoric.