Inside Jaish-e-Mohammed's Terror Revival: Italian Journalist Links Delhi Blast to Pakistan's Continuing Threat Against India

The November 10 blast resulted in 15 fatalities and over 20 injuries.

New Delhi:

Italian investigative journalist Francesca Marino has raised serious concerns about the growing threat from Pakistan-based terrorist organizations, linking the recent suicide bombing at Delhi's Red Fort to a broader resurgence of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Speaking exclusively with NDTV's Aditya Raj Kaul following the launch of her book 'From Pulwama to Payback - The Inside Story', Marino explained that this first-ever suicide attack in India's capital is not an isolated incident but rather part of a calculated terror strategy years in development.

The devastating November 10 attack, claiming 15 lives and injuring more than 20, utilized TATP explosive - notoriously called the "Mother of Satan" and previously used in European terror attacks. Marino indicates this aligns perfectly with JeM's established doctrine of vengeance and expansion. Intelligence reports mentioned during the interview suggest the terrorist group initially planned to strike on December 6 - the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition - and potentially targeted a Hindu religious site. "JeM exists only to target India," Marino emphasizes. "Without executing attacks, they lose their significance and financial backing."

She cautions that JeM is undergoing aggressive reconstruction, even establishing a female suicide bomber division partly led by Masood Azhar's sisters. "This demonstrates their level of radicalization. They are adapting, expanding and preparing for their next phase," she notes.

Balakot: The Strike Pakistan Attempted to Conceal

While the Delhi attack highlights JeM's renewed confidence, Marino traces its roots to events following the 2019 Pulwama attack and subsequent Indian Air Force strike on Balakot. Her book revisits this controversy with new information, including her own eyewitness-based reporting - coverage that Pakistan tried to dismiss through a coordinated disinformation campaign.

Marino recounts how her reliable source described seeing "35 bodies being carried away" on the night of the Balakot strike. Mobile phones were confiscated, and within hours, Pakistan's military began clearing debris and moving the wounded to an army facility. The area was sealed off in subsequent days. Yet Pakistan publicly insisted that India had "hit only trees."

"The cover-up was immediate and extensive," Marino states. "They dispatched media personalities like Hamid Mir days later, orchestrated photo opportunities, and claimed nothing happened. However, the bombs India deployed don't create craters - so the absence of craters actually contradicted Pakistan's narrative."

Marino remains perplexed by how international media accepted Islamabad's version without scrutiny. "Pakistan is a recognized sponsor of terrorism. Yet their claims are readily believed, while India is constantly pressed for evidence," she observes.

Why Balakot Was Significant

Marino explains that while JeM's operational center is in Bahawalpur, Balakot hosted one of its most critical training facilities at that time, preparing both Pakistani and Afghan fighters for major operations. Indian intelligence had monitored unusual activity for months. "Pulwama was the catalyst. The planning for Balakot wasn't spontaneous; it represented years of intelligence work," she clarifies.

Despite Pakistan's denials, she maintains that Balakot inflicted substantial damage to JeM's infrastructure, even if temporarily. "Reconstruction began quickly, but India's strike achieved its objectives. And that precisely explains JeM's current quest for revenge."

A Radicalized Pakistani State

Marino expresses serious concern regarding Pakistan's current power structure under Army Chief General Asim Munir, whom she describes as "the most radical army chief in Pakistan's history." She argues that both the army and ISI have grown emboldened, continuing their longstanding alliances with JeM, Lashkar-e-Taiba and other jihadist groups unchecked.

"The army needs to fabricate an enemy to justify its power - and India serves as that enemy," she says. "As long as this remains the case, organizations like JeM will continue to flourish."

Why Indians Should Read This Book

Marino explains that 'From Pulwama to Payback' is intended not just for security analysts but for ordinary citizens seeking clarity amid misinformation. "It explains JeM's operational methods, Pakistan's enabling role, and reveals the true events behind Pulwama, Balakot and now the Delhi bombing."

With JeM's renewed threat now manifesting in the heart of India's capital, Marino's book provides an essential framework for understanding the forces shaping South Asia's most volatile security challenges.