In a significant development following India's military action, a top commander of the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has publicly acknowledged the impact of the strikes. Saifullah Kasuri, the deputy chief of LeT and a key planner behind the recent Pahalgam terror attack, stated that India "made a mistake" by targeting terror camps. This admission, made on December 31, 2025, serves as a rare confirmation of New Delhi's claims of a precise and successful counter-terror operation.
Kasuri's Admission Confirms Indian Military Success
For the first time since the execution of Operation Sindoor, a senior leader within the terror outfit has broken the pattern of denial typically adopted by Pakistan-backed groups. Kasuri's statement directly validates India's position that its military action accurately hit designated terror infrastructure across the Line of Control. Analysts view this public declaration not as a mere taunt but as an indicator of the strategic discomfort and operational setback suffered by these groups. The precision of the Indian strike effectively removed the veil of deniability that these outfits and their handlers often rely on.
Aggressive Rhetoric and Threats Follow Admission
Alongside his admission, Saifullah Kasuri resorted to aggressive rhetoric and issued territorial threats concerning Kashmir. This reaction is seen as an attempt to salvage morale and project defiance in the face of a successful Indian operation. However, security experts point out that the very need to publicly address the strike underscores its effectiveness. India's calculated restraint in the aftermath denied the terrorists and their sponsors the opportunity to escalate the situation into a wider conflict, while the surgical nature of the operation left little room for factual rebuttal.
Broader Context and Regional Implications
This episode fits into the ongoing pattern of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil. The reference to the Pahalgam terror attack directly links Kasuri to a major incident that targeted the ethos of Kashmiriyat. His subsequent threats highlight the persistent intent of such groups to destabilize the region. India's response through Operation Sindoor demonstrates a continued commitment to a proactive security doctrine, targeting terror at its source. The admission from a figure of Kasuri's rank proves that the operation achieved its tactical objective of degrading capabilities and causing significant disarray within the terror ranks, forcing a vocal response from its leadership.
The event reinforces the challenges and complexities of maintaining security in the region against state-sponsored terrorism. It also showcases India's evolving strategy of combining precise military action with diplomatic and strategic restraint to manage escalation.
