Pak Politician Claims Red Fort Blast, Jaish Links Raise Alarm

New Delhi, Nov 19, 2025: Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated further after a senior Pakistani politician, Chaudhary Anwarul Haq, claimed his country played a direct role in the car bomb attack at Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10. The blast killed 15 people and injured over a dozen, marking one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the capital in recent years.

Speaking days after the attack, Haq, former 'Prime Minister' of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), told the PoK Assembly, “I said earlier, if you (India) keep bleeding Balochistan, we will hit you from the Red Fort to the forests of Kashmir. By the grace of Allah, we have done it... our brave men have done it.”

While Pakistan has not issued an official comment on Haq’s statement, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned Islamabad cannot discount the possibility of “all-out war” with India. Pakistan remains on “full alert” amid rising regional tensions.

Background on India-Pakistan Tensions
Pakistan has frequently accused India of fomenting unrest in Balochistan, a claim India denies. New Delhi maintains that such allegations are a diversion from Islamabad-supported cross-border terrorist activities. Investigations into the Red Fort attack have linked the plot to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-backed terrorist group. The bomb-laden Hyundai i20 used in the attack contained ammonium nitrate fuel oil, a substance commonly used in terror operations.

Investigation Reveals Jaish’s Involvement
Indian intelligence agencies traced the terror cell behind the attack to a “terror doctor” network led by Maulvi Irfan Ahmed from Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir. The group allegedly included doctors from Haryana’s Al-Falah Medical College, with Dr. Umar Mohammad serving as the suicide bomber. The handlers, including Ahmed and Pakistan-based operative Umar-bin-Khattab (Hanjullah), coordinated the attack with direct links to JeM leadership.

Officials revealed that JeM is actively fundraising for future “fidayeen” attacks in India through digital platforms, including a Pakistan-based app called SadaPay. Alarmingly, the group has also established a women’s wing, led by Masood Azhar’s sister Sadiya Azhar, to coordinate terror operations. One key suspect, Dr. Shahina Saeed, codenamed “Madam Surgeon,” is believed to have financed the Red Fort attack and may be connected to this unit.

Rising Threats in Jammu & Kashmir
Fresh intelligence accessed by Indian agencies indicates a potential escalation in Pakistan-backed terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. Groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, heavily funded and supported by Pakistan’s military and deep state, are reportedly planning a new wave of coordinated attacks. Both groups have been involved in deadly strikes in India over the past six months.

The Stakes for India and the Region
The Red Fort blast and Haq’s open claim of Pakistan’s involvement have intensified security concerns across India, particularly in the national capital and sensitive border regions. Authorities are on high alert as investigations continue to identify and apprehend remaining operatives. The incident underscores the ongoing challenge posed by cross-border terrorism and the need for heightened vigilance in counter-terrorism efforts.

As the diplomatic and security situation unfolds, India-Pakistan relations face increasing strain, raising fears of potential retaliatory actions and highlighting the broader regional instability that cross-border terrorism perpetuates.