In the first part of India Today's investigative report on escalating Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu, it has been revealed that Masood Azhar, the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), previously believed to be deceased or incapacitated, is not only alive but actively operating in Pakistan. This revelation stems from a forensic analysis conducted by India Today's OSINT team on multimedia clips linked to JeM.
Despite multiple reports in the media over the years declaring him dead or severely ill, Azhar has been observed moving freely within Pakistan, even attending public events such as wedding ceremonies. The resurgence of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) since the beginning of the year, resulting in casualties among security personnel and civilians, has once again highlighted the involvement of JeM-affiliated operatives masquerading as local militant groups.
Intelligence assessments have consistently pointed towards Pakistan-based terrorist organizations like JeM as being behind these recent attacks. Masood Azhar, designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations and various countries, recently made a public appearance at a wedding in Bahawalpur, where he delivered a speech.
During his speech, Azhar openly endorsed suicide missions, emphasizing their significance in the context of jihad in Kashmir and Palestine. He lamented the challenges faced by militants today compared to earlier times, highlighting the tension between personal obligations like marriage and the commitment to martyrdom.
A video clip of Azhar's speech, initially recorded on June 27 according to metadata analysis by India Today, was later edited and uploaded to social media platforms. The analysis of the clip's metadata revealed technical details such as the use of Adobe Audition for editing on a Windows-based system, indicating a recent production.
To verify the authenticity of Azhar's voice in the clip, India Today employed Pyannote, a Python-based tool for speaker diarisation. The comparison of the recent audio clip with a previously authenticated sample confirmed a high degree of similarity, corroborating the speaker's identity as Masood Azhar.
Intelligence sources have disclosed that JeM operatives, trained in Pakistan, have adopted the guise of a newly formed Kashmiri militant group, Kashmir Tigers. This strategic move aims to provide a local veneer to recent attacks, potentially shielding Pakistan from international sanctions.
This development comes against the backdrop of Pakistan's recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List due to perceived improvements in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks. Additionally, Pakistan has secured a substantial loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), underscoring the geopolitical implications of its ongoing efforts to manage economic instability amid global scrutiny of its counterterrorism efforts.
