Links to Jaish-e-Mohammed Uncovered in Delhi Red Fort Attack

New Delhi: Investigations into the tragic car explosion near Delhi's iconic Red Fort have revealed crucial ties to the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), as disclosed by sources. This explosion, claiming nine lives and injuring over 20 people, involved a Hyundai i20 loaded with ammonium nitrate fuel oil.

Authorities have identified two significant links to JeM. The first pertains to a terror module implicated in executing the attack, while the second relates to Shaheena Shahid, a healthcare worker connected to the incident, whose vehicle contained an assault rifle and ammunition. Shahid is reportedly leading JeM's women's division in India.

Shahid and her associate Dr. Mujammil Shakeel, affiliated with Al-Falah Hospital in Faridabad, were apprehended on Monday. Additionally, police confiscated almost 2,900 kg of explosive materials from Shakeel's properties, including ammonium nitrate—the substance used in the Red Fort incident.

A further arrest occurred with Adil Ahmed Rather taken into custody from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Investigators speculate that a third individual, Dr. Umar Mohammed, may have initiated the blast in fear following the arrests of Shakeel and Rather, suggesting a potential suicide operation.

The recruitment of healthcare professionals in terror activities indicates a worrying shift in JeM's methodology, showcasing a “white-collar” approach to extremism, where educated individuals are utilized for logistics and execution of assaults.

Founded by Masood Azhar, JeM has previously conducted notable attacks such as the 2019 Pulwama tragedy and the Pahalgam murders in April 2025. After a series of strikes by Indian military forces on its training sites, JeM is in the process of reestablishing its network with assistance from the Pakistani deep state. An element of this strategy includes the formation of a women’s wing, the Jamat ul-Muminat, led by Sadiya Azhar, which is dedicated to the recruitment and indoctrination of women near JeM’s surviving camps.

As investigations unfold across various states, authorities aim to uncover more extensive networks linked to the Red Fort explosion, underlining the growing danger posed by sophisticated terror modules infiltrating professional domains.