The vehicle was initially registered in the state of Haryana, India and, after changing hands seven times, ended up in the possession of Dr. Umar Nabi, who is now confirmed to be the perpetrator of the attack. According to journalistic sources, Dr. Mohammad Umar Nabi, a doctor from Kashmir, is believed to have ties to the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and was part of a radicalized group of doctors coordinating actions via the Telegram messaging app, and other encrypted chat applications.

On the same day, the Jammu and Kashmir police, in coordination with authorities in the Indian State of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, discovered approximately 2,900 kilograms of explosives—likely ammonium nitrate—along with AK-47 rifles and bomb-making materials in residences in Faridabad, Haryana. The seized materials included 360 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and additional weaponry, such as AK-47s and Beretta pistols.

This discovery is connected to the arrest of Dr. Adil Ahmed Rather in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Adil, also from Kashmir, worked as a doctor in Saharanpur. His arrest and interrogation in a case involving posting of posters linked to Pak-based terror outfit JeM in Srinagar, led to the exposure of a wider terrorist network and the detention of other members, including Dr. Muzammil from Faridabad and Dr. Shaheen Shahid from Lucknow, who is believed to be the new head of the women’s division of Jaish-e-Mohammed and a financier of the network. Dr. Muzammil, Dr. Shaheen and Dr. Nabi all were employed in various capacities at the Al-Falah hospital and University located in Faridabad, Haryana.

Imam Irfan Ahmad, a resident of the Shopian area in Jammu and Kashmir, is thought to have played a central role in the network. Previously, he worked as paramedical staff at the Government Medical College of Srinagar and is reported to have been instrumental in radicalizing medical students. Dr. Umar maintained direct contacts with Maulvi Irfan Ahmad. Additionally, two female doctors from Srinagar and Anantnag provided accounting support for the Al-Fallah cell, funded via digital wallets from Istanbul and Doha between 2023 and 2024. Both had graduated from Dhaka Medical College. Interestingly Dr. Muzammil and Dr. Nabi had visited Turkey in March 2022.

Authorities have revealed that suspects Muzammil Shakeel and Umar Nabi conducted reconnaissance at the Red Fort in January and planned an attack for January 26, 2026, while also intending to target crowded areas during Diwali. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is leading the ongoing investigation.

In addition, Dr. Parvez Ansari, Mohammd Arif Mir and Dr. Farukh have also been arrested. Investigators are following up available leads and more arrests cannot be ruled out.

Advertisement

Although the physical footprint of terrorism appears limited, its ideological and financial foundations remain resilient. India has been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism, from the November 26, 2008 attacks in Mumbai to the Pulwama attack in 2019 and the most recent Pahalgam attack in April 2025.

This terrorist attack has shocked the international community, and global media are analyzing its ramifications. Euronews notes that India is treating the Red Fort explosion as a potential terrorist act under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, emphasizing the maintenance of public order and citizen safety. The government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is implementing stringent measures, including increased police presence, tighter security checks at crowded locations, and expedited judicial proceedings for those involved. An attack at such a crowded historical site causes significant social and operational disruptions, including transport interruptions and heightened protective measures, while reinforcing authorities’ commitment to immediate action and prevention of future threats.

Al Jazeera highlights the terrorist dimension of the incident, noting that the application of India’s primary anti-terrorism law demonstrates that authorities view it as a potential terrorist act. Investigations into links with the Jaish-e-Mohammed network are intensifying, and clear radicalization structures within the medical profession are being monitored. The government, under Narendra Modi, has taken a firm stance, labeling the attack a “conspiracy of anti-national forces,” increasing policing at critical locations, and preparing for potential strategic responses.

Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State under the Trump administration, described the attack as a “clear terrorist attack” and praised Indian authorities for their professionalism and methodical approach. He noted that India has maintained a “measured and careful stance” during the investigation and added that U.S. authorities offered assistance, although the Indians do not require it, being fully capable of conducting the investigation independently. He also remarked that “the explosion came from a car loaded with highly explosive materials, which detonated causing the death of many people.”

Several countries also publicly condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with India. Singapore strongly condemned the attack and expressed close support, while Israel emphasized its backing of India in the fight against terrorism. Bangladesh labeled the act a heinous terrorist attack, stressing that such attacks are unacceptable under any circumstances. Nepal expressed deep condolences to the victims’ families and pledged support for India, while Ireland offered full backing and solidarity to the Indian people and government. These statements underline the international condemnation of the incident and a united stance against terrorism.

The main structures used to organize and execute attacks against Indian targets rely on a multi-layered “hybrid” infrastructure. Terrorist organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba operate through a combination of political figures disguised as front organizations, intermediary networks within Pakistan—historically supported by state-linked networks—and smaller cells that utilize professionals or students for radicalization and technical support. This structure enables both low-scale operations, such as local attacks and vehicle bombings, and coordinated actions with cross-border impact, as documented in security analyses and regional reports.

Funding and supplies for these networks originate from a combination of sources: private donations and sponsorships—often via international charitable or religious organizations—“front” entities acting as intermediaries, and informal money transfer systems such as hawala, which complicate international tracking. Internal reserves and local commercial or parallel economy flows within Pakistan also play a significant role. While countries such as Turkey and China have strengthened diplomatic, economic, and, in some cases, cultural relations with Pakistan, international assessments differentiate between direct state funding for terrorism and broader political or economic support. In Europe, concerns have been raised regarding organizations partially linked to Turkish funding networks, while for China, reliable international sources do not document public or direct state funding of groups carrying out attacks against India. Reports emphasize the primary importance of private donations, hawala systems, and front organizations as funding mechanisms and underscore the need for enhanced international AML/CFT cooperation to block these flows.

The ongoing activity of Pakistan-supported terrorist networks may negatively affect Europe in various ways: increasing migration pressure from populations seeking safety, expanding international terrorist organization networks with potential transfers of expertise, funding, or recruitment to European territory, and disrupting economic and commercial relations by raising business risks for European companies operating in South Asia.

Meanwhile, the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan could lead to geopolitical instability, drawing Europe into diplomatic crises and pressures for sanctions. Propaganda and successful attacks by terrorist groups can further radicalize European societies, increasing the risk of internal attacks and threats to citizen security.

The terrorist attack near the Red Fort serves as a stark reminder of the continuing threat posed by international terrorist networks, which exploit both ideological and financial infrastructures to execute attacks. Despite the arrest of perpetrators and the disruption of substantial network resources, the need for constant vigilance, strict law enforcement, and international cooperation remains imperative. The responses of countries such as the U.S., Singapore, Israel, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Ireland demonstrate that terrorism knows no borders and can only be countered through unified, collective action. As Nelson Mandela once said:

"We must be determined not to let fear control us. Terrorism has no place in societies that respect human life."

Share this article: