India blames Pakistan-based groups for Kashmir massacre as military conflict escalates
India’s latest military strikes against Pakistan follow a gruesome terrorist attack in Kashmir last month that left 26 civilians dead — the most intense violence between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.
The attackers ambushed Hindu men at a scenic picnic site, according to witnesses, identifying victims by religion and killing many in front of their families. A little-known group called the Resistance Front claimed responsibility. Indian officials, however, say it is merely a front for longstanding terrorist outfits based in Pakistan: Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Pakistan has denied any connection to the attack or the groups, rejecting India’s claims outright.
Here’s what we know about the organizations India says it targeted:
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
Founded in the 1980s, Lashkar-e-Taiba has long been linked to major terrorist attacks in India and was designated a terrorist group by the United Nations in 2005.
Its most infamous operation was the 2008 Mumbai attacks, where 10 gunmen arrived by boat and killed more than 160 people in a coordinated assault on the city. The attackers took hostages at major hotels and unleashed chaos. One was captured alive, and his testimony detailed the group’s Pakistan-based operations. He was executed in 2012.
While Pakistan has acknowledged LeT’s past ties to terrorism, it maintains the group has been outlawed and dismantled. However, Indian officials argue LeT remains active through affiliated organizations such as the Resistance Front and accuse its founder, Hafiz Saeed, of continuing to operate freely despite intermittent detentions.
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
Jaish-e-Mohammed has played a major role in militancy in Kashmir and beyond. Founded by Masood Azhar, the group rose to prominence after Azhar was freed from an Indian prison in 1999 in exchange for hostages aboard a hijacked Indian Airlines flight.
JeM has been implicated in several high-profile attacks:
- The 2001 assault on India’s Parliament.
- The 2019 suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir, which brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.
Azhar remains at large in Pakistan. India contends he continues to direct operations, despite Islamabad’s claims that JeM has been curtailed.
What Did India’s Strikes Accomplish?
Early Wednesday morning, Indian forces launched coordinated strikes on nine sites in Pakistan, targeting facilities associated with LeT and JeM.
India claims around 100 terrorists were killed, while Pakistan’s military puts the toll at 31. Independent confirmation of either figure is difficult.
Among the confirmed targets:
- A compound in Bahawalpur, Punjab, linked to Masood Azhar, where 13 people died — including 10 of Azhar’s family members — in the deadliest strike.
- A complex in Muridke, once the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba, where three people were killed. Pakistan claims the building was seized by authorities in 2019 and no longer serves any militant function.
- Four other strikes hit seminaries and mosques in Punjab and Pakistan-administered Kashmir that were allegedly linked to the groups in the past.
While it’s unclear whether the facilities were currently operational or legacy sites, the strikes mark a significant escalation and underscore India’s willingness to take direct military action against what it views as continuing cross-border terror threats.
