A senior commander of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed that Pakistan’s response to India’s Operation Sindoor was framed as a religious war, invoking the extremist concept of “Ghazwa-e-Hind”. The assertion was made by Ilyas Kashmiri while addressing a gathering of cadres in Rawalkot in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on February 5, according to sources tracking militant activity in the region. 

The gathering reportedly included newly recruited militants and was held openly, with armed cadres present. During his address, Kashmiri revisited the period surrounding Operation Sindoor and alleged that the group’s “commander” had formally declared the confrontation with India to be religious in nature. He described scenes of escalation involving fighter jets, tanks and heavy weaponry, portraying the conflict as part of a broader ideological struggle rooted in extremist doctrine.

‘Jihad Is Our Identity And Objective’

Quoting the group’s core ideology, Kashmiri told the assembly: “Hamara naam, hamaripehchan, hamara motto jihad hai. Jab sarkarsaaththi tab bhi jihad, jab sarkarsaathnahinthi tab bhi jihad. Jihad hamaramaqsadhai. Hum jihad karenge aur Kashmir ko azaadkarwayenge.” The statement underlined Jaish-e-Mohammed’s long-stated position that violent jihad remains central to its identity, regardless of political circumstances or shifts in state support.

Operation Sindoor Framed As Religious War

Kashmiri repeatedly stressed that the organisation’s commitment to militancy does not change with evolving political equations. Referring again to Operation Sindoor, he claimed that once hostilities escalated, the leadership explicitly framed the conflict in religious terms. “Jab jangchhidgayi, asalhanikalaaya, tayyaretakragayin, tank aamnesaamnekhade ho gaye, sipahsalar ne ailankardiya ki yeGhazwat-ul-Hind hai, ye Bunyan Al Marsooshai,” he said.

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Renewed Spotlight On Terror-State Nexus

The Rawalkot address has renewed focus on allegations of a terror-state nexus in Pakistan. Analysts note that public speeches by leaders of banned extremist groups continue to take place openly, often drawing large crowds, despite these organisations being designated terrorist entities by the United Nations. Security experts warn that such events highlight the persistence of extremist infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied territories and the continuing threat posed by groups advocating violence against India.\

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