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Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar struggled to defend Pakistan’s position after images surfaced of Hafiz Abdur Rauf, a US-designated terrorist, leading a funeral procession in Pakistan. Khar, in a tense Al Jazeera interview, dismissed claims about Rauf’s identity, calling him a "common man" and insisting that the individual was not the sanctioned terrorist, despite India's Operation Sindoor on May 7, which targeted militants. Rauf, an active member of the LeT since 1999, has been a close associate of 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind, Hafiz Saeed, often seen in his close proximity.

Pakistan lie exposed on live TV

Khar held up a photo of the man, claiming, "There are countless people with that (Rauf) name in Pakistan," and argued that global evidence supported her stance. However, the anchor challenged her, citing a Pakistan military press conference that acknowledged the individual as a political party member and released his national ID number, which matched the US sanctions list. As the anchor exposed her on live TV, Khar maintained, “The Pakistani army is not defending a terrorist listed by the US.”

Moment Rabbani got confused

The anchor swiftly pointed out the contradiction, noting the military’s confirmation of the ID number. Khar then referenced the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), claiming they denied the individual’s terrorist links, but the anchor countered, “You said the army defended him, yet they didn’t dispute the identity.” The exchange, highlighting Pakistan’s conflicting narrative on handling globally designated terrorists, has since gone viral.

As proof, the ISPR, during a live press conference, gave Rauf’s Computerised National Identity Card number 35202-5400413-9 along with his date of birth – March 25, 1973 – and that he was a resident of Lahore.

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Fact check: Is Hafiz Abdur Rauf really a Common man?

Later, India also fact-checked the claims made by the Pakistani army. The Press Information Bureau (PIB), sharing the video of the ISPR said, "The identity details shared by DG ISPR completely overlap with the details of Hafiz Abdur Rauf, a member of LeT's senior leadership since at least 1999 and part of the US Sanctions List."

India had earlier pointed out the nexus of Pakistani state and terrorists operating on its soil when it flashed the photograph of Rauf leading the funeral prayers of terrorists killed at the LeT HQ in Mudrike during the Indian strikes with attendance of senior army and police officers in uniform and wreath from Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan's Punjab Chief Minister and niece of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

(With inputs from agencies)

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