New Delhi: Pakistani-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) is suspected to be behind the deadly explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on Sunday evening that claimed 13 lives. Early assessments indicate that the nature of the blast bears a resemblance to prior attacks, most notably the 2019 Pulwama terror strike.
Intelligence inputs suggest that JeM may have been attempting an assault akin to the Pahalgam attack earlier this year. Investigators note that this could signal the resurgence of the group’s operations after the April Pahalgam attack, which resulted in 26 fatalities.
In July 2025, the Indian Army had launched Operation Mahadev to neutralize terror elements. Sources indicate that while army units were tracking and eliminating JeM operatives, plans for another strike were allegedly underway. Investigators are examining all leads, including connections to JeM’s known methods, and old case files are being revisited to uncover potential links.
Interestingly, the blast site did not reveal any craters, suggesting a controlled detonation rather than a conventional improvised explosive device (IED). Officials confirmed that the bodies of victims showed no traces of nails, metal fragments, or wiring, which are typically found in standard IED attacks. However, authorities are keeping all possibilities open while probing the incident.
The vehicle involved in the explosion has been identified as a Haryana-registered Hyundai i20. Police have already taken the Gurgaon resident who registered the car into custody. Records indicate the car was first owned by Mohammed Salman and later sold to an individual named Nadeem. Authorities, in coordination with the RTO, are investigating the current ownership trail.
Security forces across the country have been placed on high alert. Border regions have seen an increased deployment of personnel, while in Bihar, where the second phase of assembly elections is underway, heightened security measures have been implemented along the India-Nepal border and in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials emphasized that ongoing investigations rely on forensic evidence rather than speculation, aiming to build a clear picture of the perpetrators behind the blast.