Masood Azhar issues fresh threat after Operation Sindoor, claims suicide bombers ready to strike India

New Delhi: A fresh audio message allegedly attributed to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar has surfaced on social media, triggering serious security concerns. In the explosive audio clip, Azhar is heard claiming that thousands of suicide bombers are ready to carry out attacks against India, following heavy losses suffered by his family and organisation during India’s recent military action, Operation Sindoor.

According to reports carried by national media outlets, the audio message suggests that more than 1,000 suicide bombers are prepared and are “pressuring” Azhar to allow them to infiltrate India and carry out attacks. The speaker in the clip repeatedly invokes “martyrdom”, asserting that the operatives are highly motivated and require no material incentives or personal gains to carry out suicide missions.

The audio has gone viral across social media platforms, with the speaker issuing grave threats that attacks could be carried out “anytime and anywhere” in India. However, authorities have cautioned that the authenticity and date of the recording could not be independently verified at this stage.

Masood Azhar, a UN-designated global terrorist, has long been accused of orchestrating and inspiring multiple terror attacks against India while operating from Pakistani soil. Security agencies are closely analysing the audio, viewing it as part of a psychological warfare tactic aimed at spreading fear and regaining relevance after recent setbacks suffered by the terror outfit.

Operation Sindoor, launched by India as a strong retaliatory response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, marked a significant escalation in counter-terror operations. During the operation, Indian armed forces targeted key terror infrastructure inside Pakistan, including Jaish-e-Mohammed’s headquarters in Bahawalpur. The strikes reportedly resulted in the killing of several close relatives of Masood Azhar, dealing a severe blow to the group’s leadership and morale.

The viral audio also claims that releasing a full list of the prepared suicide bombers would cause “massive chaos” on social media, a statement experts interpret as an attempt to amplify psychological pressure rather than a reflection of actual operational capacity.

This is not the first time audio or video messages linked to JeM or other Pakistan-based terror groups have surfaced. In the past, similar threats have been issued following Indian military or diplomatic actions, often coinciding with periods when terror networks faced intensified crackdowns or leadership losses.

Counter-terrorism experts note that such statements usually emerge when extremist organisations feel weakened or fear erosion of their support base. “When terror groups lose infrastructure, leadership or protection, they often resort to exaggerated threats to project strength and maintain relevance,” analysts said.

Masood Azhar has been repeatedly linked to some of the deadliest terror attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, among others. Indian authorities maintain that Pakistan has failed to take credible action against him despite international pressure.

Security agencies remain on high alert, stressing that India’s counter-terror apparatus has been significantly strengthened in recent years. Officials emphasised that threats issued through such audio messages are being taken seriously, even as intelligence agencies work to verify the source and intent behind the recording.