The Gulpur Camp, situated in Kotli district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Coordinates(33°24’07″N 73°52’38″E), has long been recognized as one of the most significant strongholds of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Located roughly 30 kilometers from the Line of Control (LoC), the facility functioned as a key operational hub, supporting infiltration routes into Jammu & Kashmir and coordinating terror operations in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors.
Training Ground for High-Profile Attacks
The camp’s notoriety grew after being identified as the training site for militants behind several major terror incidents in India:
• April 20, 2023 Poonch ambush: Five Indian soldiers were killed when LeT operatives attacked an Army vehicle.
• June 9, 2024 Reasi bus attack: A targeted strike on Hindu pilgrims led to nine deaths, including a child, and left 41 others injured.
Intelligence assessments further revealed that Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks, frequently visited Gulpur. His presence was critical in indoctrinating recruits and bolstering the ideological and operational framework of the camp.
Historical Roots and Evolution
The origins of Gulpur Camp date back to the 1990s, when it was established as a dedicated training facility. Its location offered both concealment and rugged terrain conducive to guerrilla warfare, making it an ideal site for LeT’s activities.
Although India’s 2016 surgical strikes disrupted several terror launchpads along the LoC, the Gulpur facility itself was not directly struck. Following that episode, its activities became less overt, but intelligence reports confirmed that it continued to operate covertly, sustaining LeT’s infiltration and training programs.
Terrorism-Linked Operations
Over the decades, Gulpur evolved into more than just a training ground:
• It became a launchpad for infiltration, channeling militants into Indian territory.
• The camp doubled as an indoctrination hub, with recruits subjected to ideological conditioning under senior handlers like Lakhvi.
• It provided logistical support, weapons training, and suicide bomber preparation, making it central to LeT’s operational capacity in the region.
Leadership and Handlers
The camp was primarily run by LeT cadres, but also benefited from external oversight and high-level involvement.
• Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi played a pivotal role, often visiting to guide and motivate new recruits.
• Intelligence sources also link the camp to Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, who exercised operational control with assistance from elements of the Pakistani Special Services Group (SSG).
• In addition, Aashiq Nengroo, an Indian militant who crossed over into PoK, was reported to have operated from the facility.
Conclusion
From its inception in the 1990s to its role in recent attacks, Gulpur Camp has stood as a critical node in LeT’s terror network. By combining training, indoctrination, and operational planning under one roof, the camp exemplifies how militant infrastructure in PoK continues to threaten stability across the LoC. Its eventual targeting during India’s Operation Sindoor in 2025 underscored the strategic importance of dismantling such entrenched centers of terrorism.