Red Fort Blast: Was it a Deliberate Terror Attack Orchestrated by Jaish-e-Mohammad?

New Delhi, November 11: Security agencies have indicated that the Red Fort car explosion on Monday evening was the result of a carefully orchestrated terror plot designed to inflict maximum damage.

According to preliminary investigations, a car loaded with explosives was driven from Faridabad to Delhi by an operative identified as Umar. The suspected fidayeen reportedly waited for nearly three hours in the parking area near Red Fort before detonating the explosives around 6:30 p.m., just outside the Red Fort Metro Station.

The timing of the blast coincided with peak evening rush hour, when devotees crowd the nearby Gauri Shankar Temple in Chandni Chowk for the Monday evening aarti. It was also the hour when shops begin closing and commuters throng the metro gates. The “slow-moving” vehicle halted at a red light near the station before exploding, sending shockwaves across the densely packed area. Security officials believe the location and timing were symbolic, targeting one of India’s most iconic landmarks.

PM Modi Vows Stern Action

Speaking from Bhutan on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a grave warning:

“Our agencies will go to the root of this conspiracy. Those who plotted this will not be spared. All those responsible will be brought to justice.”

The Prime Minister, who will chair a high-level security meeting in Delhi upon his return on Wednesday, drew parallels with the response following the Pahalgam terror attack, when he vowed to hunt down the perpetrators “till the end of the earth.” That declaration had been followed by Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strike.

While the Pahalgam attackers were confirmed to be Pakistani nationals, initial findings suggest the culprits behind the Red Fort car blast hail from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. Intelligence sources are now probing the possible involvement of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), given the group’s recent vow of revenge after several family members of Masood Azhar were killed in India’s BrahMos strike on Bahawalpur during Operation Sindoor.

Notably, Pakistani military officials were seen attending the funerals of Azhar’s relatives. New Delhi has reiterated that Operation Sindoor remains on pause, not over, and that any future terror strike on Indian soil would be treated as an act of war.

Intelligence Links and Ongoing Probe

Multiple security and intelligence agencies are currently piecing together the operational trail. The Prime Minister is expected to review their findings at the upcoming Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and Union Cabinet meetings.

PM Modi had previously chaired a similar meeting following his return from Saudi Arabia after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, during which he granted the armed forces a free hand to pursue the masterminds. Officials indicate that a comparable directive could emerge from Wednesday’s deliberations.

Ministers React

Union Minister Suresh Gopi described the incident as “highly unusual and unfortunate,” while confirming that strict information-sharing guidelines have been issued by the Centre.

“We cannot openly speak about the investigation’s progress. Even if we know certain details, we are not authorized to disclose them. What’s important to note is that in the last 30 days alone, our agencies have foiled eight such attempts—including in states like Rajasthan. Despite these preventive efforts, this attack occurred in a moving vehicle,” he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed grief and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to justice.

“I want to assure my countrymen that those responsible for this tragic incident will be brought to justice. The country’s leading investigative agencies are conducting a thorough inquiry, and none of the culprits will be spared,” he stated.