Recently, a senior commander of terrorist group organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed has made a major and sensational claim in this regard. Commander Ilyas Kashmiri has stated that Pakistan's Army chief, General Asim Munir, deliberately presented the response to India's Operation Sindoor as a religious jihad or Ghazwa-e-Hind.

This statement came forth on February 5 during an underground terrorist gathering that was held in Rawalkot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. A large number of newly recruited terrorists were also present at the event. An audio recording of the speech has surfaced; the audio depicts Ilyas Kashmiri openly accusing Pakistan's military leadership, confirming the claim that Pakistan is synonymous with terrorist organisations.

Attack of terrorists showcased as jihadi war

Kashmiri further said that the escalated tensions between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor are being showcased as a religious war. He further claimed that the situation escalated, fighter jets crashed, tanks were deployed and weapons were used. The army's top commander declared it "Ghazwat-ul-Hind".

Beyond this Bunyad-al-Marsoos

The terrorist commander had openly stated from the stage that Jaish-e-Mohammed's sole objective is jihad. He stated that whether the government supports them or not, jihad is their path, and it will continue until Kashmir is liberated.

What is Ghazwa-e-Hind

Ghazwa-e-Hind is a radical and controversial notion that is the principle of some terrorist and extremist organisations to justify violence against India. Its literal meaning is war against India. Some radicals portray it as a religious war against India and link it to Islamic texts as well. Terrorist outfits in the past have claimed that its purpose is to spread violence and impose Sharia law in India.

These principles are often used by terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba for recruitment and incitement. India has always regarded Ghazwa-e-Hind as terrorist propaganda. Indian security agencies have stated that it has been used to give a religious twist to violence.

The statement is a stark reminder of how terrorism is propagated in Pakistan and how radical narratives are given a free hand to induce terror. It is noteworthy that Operation Sindoor was launched by India in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which killed 26 innocent people. India had stated that the operation was carried out to target terrorist hideouts, training camps and launch pads in Pakistan and PoK. In response, India stated that terrorism and talks cannot coexist, and that there will be no compromise on national security.