New Revelations in Terror Plot Linked to Pakistan's ISI Following Arrest of LeT Operative
Significant Findings from Interrogation of LeT Operative
Recent investigations have unveiled crucial details regarding a terrorist conspiracy supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) following the arrest of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Shabbir Ahmed Lone. Authorities revealed that a previously apprehended suspect had conducted reconnaissance on commercial and religious sites in Delhi, including the Kalka Ji Temple, Lotus Temple, and Chhatarpur Temple. After completing the surveillance, a video was sent to Pakistan, which identified Lone. The suspect also recorded footage of Connaught Place. This incident occurred just a day after Lone's arrest by the Delhi Police's Special Cell in the Ghazipur area, after which he was presented in court and remanded to five days of police custody.
Plans for a New Terror Group
During questioning, Lone disclosed that the ISI was planning to establish a terrorist organization modeled after the Resistance Front (TRF), which was involved in last year's Pulwama attack. Investigators noted that Lone maintained regular contact with LeT operatives based in Pakistan, identified as Asif Dar and Sumama Babar. Originally from Sopore, Dar coordinated these activities through an encrypted Telegram handle while operating from Pakistan. Authorities indicated that Lone frequently changed his encrypted chat identity but eventually began using a specific mobile number to communicate with his handlers and associates, which ultimately aided investigators in tracing the network.
Logistical Support from LeT Members
Reports indicate that LeT members Abu Huzaifa, Abu Bakr, and Faisal visited Lone's area to provide logistical support. It was Abu Huzaifa who initially recruited Lone into LeT. Lone completed a 21-day basic training program known as 'Doura-e-Aam,' where he learned to handle small arms and grenades. He later underwent 'Doura-e-Khas,' an advanced three-month course that included training on AK-series rifles, rocket launchers, IEDs, and light machine guns. Additionally, he was sent to a LeT camp in Muzaffarabad for 'Doura-e-Sufa,' aimed at ideological education and recruitment of new members.
ISI's Alleged Plans for Operational Cell in Bangladesh
Investigators revealed that the ISI allegedly dispatched Lone to establish an operational cell in Bangladesh targeting India. In March 2025, Lone reportedly settled in Saidpur after crossing the India-Bangladesh border with his family. There, he allegedly set up a base for terrorist activities. To conceal his identity and avoid suspicion, Lone married a local Bangladeshi woman. Subsequently, he began recruiting Bangladeshi and Indian youths from various states and Union Territories outside Jammu and Kashmir to carry out attacks within India.
Background of Shabbir Ahmed Lone
Lone has a long history of involvement in terrorist activities, having been arrested previously in 2007 when an AK-47 rifle and a grenade were seized from him. He was again apprehended in 2015 under the jurisdiction of the Parimpora police station in Srinagar. According to a senior officer from the Delhi Police, Lone had connections with handlers working for the ISI. The officer stated, "Lone, also known by the aliases Raja and Kashmiri, is a resident of Srinagar and was reportedly a handler for a recently apprehended module involved in pasting anti-national posters at various locations in Delhi and Kolkata."