LeT water training at Mangla Dam? New video surfaces amid Indus Waters Treaty tensions | WATCH
A video reportedly showing Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists undergoing water combat training at Mangla Dam in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has surfaced online, days after senior LeT commander Haris Dar claimed that the terror outfit was conducting specialised water training at the same location.
The footage has renewed focus on the group's reported water-based operations, particularly as India and Pakistan remain at odds over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
The video, which is yet to be independently verified, reportedly captures LeT operatives taking part in swimming and water navigation drills at Mangla Dam under the alleged supervision of the terror group's leadership and with the backing of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The emergence of the footage has drawn attention because it closely follows Dar's public remarks identifying Mangla Dam as a key training site.
Just days ago, Dar visited an LeT-run water training centre and told a gathering of terrorists that specialised water training was being conducted at Mangla Dam. Addressing those present, he reportedly said the group's next phase of water training would also take place there, making the newly surfaced video particularly significant.
During the same address, Dar also referred to the Indus Waters Treaty, which India placed in abeyance after the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Claiming that India had blocked Pakistan's water, he warned that "something" related to the water issue would happen in 2026 and asserted that Pakistan would ultimately prevail. While he did not specify what he meant, the remarks have gained renewed attention following the emergence of the training footage.
The reported use of Mangla Dam as a training site is notable because the location has previously figured in intelligence reports on Lashkar-e-Taiba's activities. According to past reports, several terrorists involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, including Ajmal Kasab, underwent marine and water-based training in the Mangla region before carrying out the 2008 attack.
The video is reportedly from Sheikhpora in Pakistan, although its authenticity and the date of recording have not been independently verified.
India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty after the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, saying the agreement would remain in abeyance until Pakistan ends its support for cross-border terrorism. Since then, Islamabad has repeatedly raised the issue at international forums, while New Delhi has maintained that its position remains unchanged.
Reiterating India's stand, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal recently said the government's position on the Indus Waters Treaty continues to be consistent.