By Levina
Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), an outlawed group that operates freely in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has released a statement praising the Pakistan Army. In the statement, HuT appears irked by reports that the United States may have offered F-35 fighter jets to India. It also makes a pointed reference to nuclear weapons.
Interestingly, the address mentioned in the statement is Lahore, while the statement itself is in Turkish.
Earlier in February, India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) cracked down on HuT. Last year, Chennai city police arrested six men for spreading anti-India content on social media. The NIA took over the investigation in August and later arrested Aziz Ahamed, also known as Jaleel Aziz Ahmed, along with Tamil Nadu HuT leader Faizul Rahman. The latest arrest is based on confessions from those already in custody.
HuT, as a group, promotes the violent secession of Kashmir with military assistance from Pakistan and actively engages in radicalizing vulnerable youth in India.
In its latest statement HuT says ” US has released $397 million in funds to support a military program in Pakistan, which has nuclear weapons. A Congressional official emphasized that the use of US-made F-16 fighter jets is strictly controlled and is only allowed for counter-terrorism operations, while its use against India is prohibited.” On the other hand, the Trump administration offered to sell the F-35, its most advanced fighter jet, to the Hindu state without any conditions. In addition, the US imposed sanctions on companies involved in Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programs in October 2023, September 2024 and December 2024. On the other hand, America gave the Hindu state a special privilege in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.“
Then the statement claims “It is 100% clear that America wants to turn the Hindu State into a regional power and to reduce Pakistan to the same level as Nepal and Bhutan“
The statement goes on to emntion how Musharraf and Bajwa whittled down Pakistan Amry’s wings. “These rulers claim that Pakistan’s economy is not in a position to embark on a ‘military adventure’ to liberate Palestine, Kashmir and other occupied lands. Yet, Pakistan’s economy has borne the brunt of decades of Jihad against Soviet Russia in Afghanistan and has resisted the Indian army in Kashmir for over a decade. In addition to these, the Pakistani rulers have surrendered Kashmir to the Hindu State and now America is trying to limit Pakistan’s nuclear and strategic weapons. So, is it not obligatory on us by law to prevent treacherous military and political leadership? Oh brave officers and soldiers of Pakistan Armed Forces! The enemy is afraid of the spirit of Jihad within you. “
Hizb ut-Tahrir, an extremist organization that rejects democracy and advocates for the restoration of the caliphate, is notorious for its strong antisemitic rhetoric and calls for Israel’s elimination. The group has been actively involved in organizing anti-Israel protests in Turkey.
The group is officially banned in Turkey, Pakistan, India, UAE, UK, across central Asia, China and Russia.