Terror Wrapped In Political Activism: Lashkar's 'Hybrid Revival' Plan Mirrors Its Pre-2008 Model

Last Updated:January 21, 2026, 14:15 IST

Lashkar youth leader Haris Dar has said in a video that the group is “focusing on youth to make a new force” and aiming to build a presence “at every Union Council (UC).

Lashkar youth leader Haris Dar seen on a video.

A renewed and recalibrated strategy by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is blending overt political activity with covert militant mobilisation, top intelligence sources have told CNN-News18. According to top intelligence sources, the terror group is attempting a “hybrid revival" that mirrors its pre-2008 model — one that normalised its presence in society while quietly preparing a sleeper force for future operations.

Recent inputs suggest that Lashkar leaders and affiliated figures are openly focusing on youth mobilisation as the core of this strategy. Statements attributed to Lashkar youth leader Haris Dar underline this emphasis, with claims that the group is “focusing on youth to make a new force" and aiming to build a presence “at every Union Council (UC)." Intelligence officials assess that this UC-level penetration is designed to create deep local roots, allowing the organisation to operate under the cover of political and social engagement.

The mobilisation drive is reportedly being stepped up ahead of Ramzan, a period the group has historically used for outreach and recruitment. Lashkar leaders have spoken of preparing a “new generation," with vows made at gatherings in Bahawalpur to ready supporters for future action. One such claim suggests the presence of around 20,000 supporters in Bahawalpur alone, with assertions that systematic training could convert them into a significant force. Agencies caution that such rhetoric is meant to signal strength and motivate cadres, even as the group operates below the radar.

A key component of this strategy is the political front. Lashkar’s political face is said to be kicking off a new movement, mobilising supporters to participate in party elections at the Union Council level. This political engagement, intelligence sources say, is intended to lend legitimacy, reduce scrutiny, and create logistical networks that can be activated when required. Parallelly, activities such as mosque construction — highlighted by reports of Pakistan Milli Muslim League general secretary Rana Abdul Rehman Mubashir laying bricks for a new mosque in Multan — are seen as low-visibility force multipliers, helping consolidate influence and community support.

Another notable shift is the attempt to reframe Lashkar’s ideological narrative. By linking the Kashmir issue with references to “Bangladeshi Muslim brothers," the group appears to be projecting itself as a pan-regional Islamist movement rather than a terror outfit focused solely on Kashmir. Intelligence agencies warn that this broader framing is aimed at widening its appeal and recruitment base, signalling readiness to “fight again" while operating under the cover of political normalisation and social activity.

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