Jaish chief releases audio threat after Indian strikes destroy headquarters

A new propaganda audio clip purportedly featuring the voice of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar has surfaced on social media, signalling a desperate attempt by the terror group to regain relevance. In the recording, the UN-designated terrorist is heard making exaggerated claims about his outfit’s strength, boasting of having "thousands" of suicide bombers ready for deployment.

Security experts view this sudden release as a reaction to severe setbacks suffered by the organisation. Azhar, who has largely remained out of the public eye since 2019, claims in the clip that his cadre counts are not limited to "one, two, or a hundred," but extend into numbers that would shock the global media. He asserts that these recruits demand neither visas nor wealth, seeking only "shahadat" (martyrdom).

Desperation Following Operation Sindoor

This propaganda push comes just months after Indian security forces delivered a crushing blow to JeM's infrastructure. Under the codename "Operation Sindoor," Indian strikes targeted the terror group's headquarters in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The operation resulted in extensive damage to the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah facility and the elimination of key leadership figures.

In September, a senior JeM commander indirectly confirmed these losses in a video, admitting that several of Masood Azhar's close relatives were killed during the strikes. The casualties included Azhar’s sister, her husband, and other extended family members. The Indian operation was launched in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.

Where is Masood Azhar?

While the audio attempts to project strength, questions remain about Azhar's physical whereabouts and health. He has not been seen publicly since surviving a blast at his Bahawalpur hideout in 2019. Intelligence agencies suspect the mastermind behind the 2019 Pulwama bombing and the 2016 Pathankot attack may have moved out of Bahawalpur to safer locations within Pakistan-occupied regions.

Authorities have not yet independently verified the authenticity or the recording date of this latest message, treating it primarily as a psychological warfare tactic intended to boost the morale of a depleted terror cadre.