Incident prompts new terror investigations
Following the devastating car explosion on 10 November 2025 near the Red Fort in New Delhi — which killed at least eight people and injured more than 20 — Indian authorities have initiated a major probe into possible links with militant networks in the disputed region of Kashmir. The blast, which took place during peak traffic outside one of the capital’s most symbolic landmarks, was quickly designated a terrorism incident by the government, triggering expanded powers for the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Arrests and raids in Kashmir
Hours before the explosion, police in the Kashmir region and neighbouring states claimed to have dismantled a suspected militant module. During raids in Kashmir’s Pulwama district and in Faridabad (Haryana), authorities arrested at least seven individuals — including two doctors — and seized what they describe as massive quantities of explosives and weapons. Investigators say the arrested group may be tied to designated militant organisations such as Jaish‑e‑Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat‑ul Hind (AGuH), operating from Kashmir and beyond.
What evidence is pointing to Kashmir?
- According to officials, the trail began with leaflets and posters found in the Nowgam area of Srinagar, which issued threats and referenced militant activity — prompting a multi-week investigation that ultimately tied suspects to the blast.
- CCTV footage of the explosion-vehicle has reportedly been matched with vehicle ownership and driver leads linked to the arrested doctors. One news source reports a cloak of medical-professional identity among suspects.
- As part of the investigation, authorities in Delhi-NCR have placed new directives on second-hand car-dealers, instructing them to verify recent vehicle sales — indicating that the vehicle used in the blast may have been procured through the usual commercial chain.
Strategic and diplomatic implications
If the Kashmir link is confirmed, the blast could escalate tensions between India and Pakistan — since both JeM and AGuH operate in Kashmir and are believed by New Delhi to have external backing. India’s Home Minister Amit Shah has called the incident a “wake-up call” and ordered agencies to “hunt down every culprit”. For Kashmir, the incident marks a troubling shift: from regional insurgency to possible urban terror linkage, suggesting that militant modules may be attempting to operate more deeply into India’s heart.
Key questions still unanswered
- Who was the driver or occupant of the exploded car, and what was their precise connection (if any) to the arrested module? Authorities have not officially named suspects, citing an on-going investigation under anti-terror laws.
- Was the explosion a deliberate suicide terror attack, an accidental detonation of a bomb-laden vehicle, or a mis-fired terror attempt? Initial findings suggest the possibility of intentional targeting, but investigation continues.
- What role did professional-class individuals (doctors, in this case) play in the module, and does this indicate a broader “white collar” terror network rather than only underground militants? Police sources say they are probing exactly this.
The takeaway
India’s security apparatus is treating the Red Fort car explosion as a significant terror incident — one with potentially deep ties to militant networks in Kashmir. The investigations into doctors, the large-scale explosives cache and the links to militant propaganda suggest this may not be an isolated case but part of a larger, evolving threat. As authorities piece together the evidence, the implications extend beyond Delhi’s blast zone — into regional security, counter-terror strategy and the contested Kashmir front.
