A purported audio message attributed to Masood Azhar, the chief of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), has resurfaced online, once again spotlighting Pakistan’s continued patronage of terrorism.
In the viral audio, whose authenticity could not be independently verified, Azhar claims his outfit has “thousands” of suicide bombers ready to strike, boasting of recruits driven by extreme fanaticism rather than material gain. Security analysts, however, view the message as a desperate attempt to project strength at a time when JeM’s operational capacity has been severely degraded.
Rhetoric after major setbacks
The audio has emerged months after Indian forces carried out precision strikes on JeM targets inside Pakistan, including its headquarters in Bahawalpur, as part of Operation Sindoor. The strikes were launched in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.
Reports indicated that the Bahawalpur complex, Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, suffered extensive damage, and several of Azhar’s close relatives and senior aides were killed, dealing a major blow to JeM’s leadership.
Pakistan’s terror links under scrutiny
Defence experts say the audio only reinforces Pakistan’s long-documented record of harbouring and enabling terror outfits. Despite repeated international assurances, groups like JeM continue to operate with relative impunity, undermining Pakistan’s claims of acting against terrorism.
Azhar, a United Nations-designated terrorist since 2001, is accused of orchestrating major attacks in India, including the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 44 CRPF personnel.
A sign of desperation
Security officials believe the message is less a credible threat and more an expression of frustration, aimed at regaining relevance after sustained counter-terror operations. Intelligence inputs suggest Azhar has gone underground and may now be operating from Pakistan-occupied regions.