Zakir Naik meets Lashkar terrorists at Lahore mosque during Pak visit

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, wanted in India for inciting hate and extremism, has been spotted meeting members of the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) during his visit to Pakistan. Naik, who arrived in the country on September 30 for a month-long visit as a state guest, met LeT commander Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi, Muhammad Harris Dhar and Faisal Nadeem -- declared 'international' terrorists by the US in 2008.

Footage authenticated by India Today shows Naik embracing Hashmi and other LeT terrorists at Lahore's Badshahi Mosque, where he addressed a gathering of over 150,000 people. The event was heavily secured by Lahore police.

Naik's visit to Pakistan as a "state guest", which is typically accorded to high-profile dignitaries and leaders of foreign nations, and his meetings with terrorists, has raised international concerns. India has called his visit "condemnable".

The Lashkar-e-Taiba is responsible for several terror attacks, including the 2008 incident in Mumbai.

Ahead of the mosque event, LeT members, including Faisal Nadeem and Muzammil Hashmi, led an online campaign to promote Naik's visit.

Muhammad Harris Dhar was in the spotlight earlier this year for his meeting with Pakistan's Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem.

Since 2016, Zakir Naik has been living in Malaysia after the Investigation Agency (NIA) lodged a case against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).

The NIA action came after the Dhaka terror attack of July 2016, where one of the attackers admitted that he was influenced by Naik's preaching through his YouTube channel.