The investigation into the Delhi Red Fort blast has placed Pakistan&rsquo;s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) under direct scrutiny, with agencies identifying operative Faisal Iqbal as a key planner. Officials say the scale of the operation, including the creation of the Faridabad terror module, points to institutional support from Pakistan.
Agencies have confirmed Iqbal&rsquo;s identity as an ISI operative tasked with assembling the network and coordinating an elaborate plan involving nearly 200 blasts. Investigators are still determining whether he operated from Pakistan or Afghanistan, as the ISI allegedly attempted to keep the trail off its soil.
Communication records show that three handlers guided the module. Among them, Iqbal was the most influential, instructing members on creating discreet Telegram channels and maintaining secrecy during planning. Officials believe the network began forming in 2019, gained structure in 2021, and was fully operational by 2023. The precision and concealment displayed by the module point to involvement by senior ISI and Pakistan Army personnel, similar to the covert model used in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The seizure of nearly 350 kg of ammonium nitrate from a Faridabad flat further highlights the magnitude of the planned attacks. The other two handlers, identified as Ukasha and Hashim, reportedly operated from the Tora Bora mountains, playing a major role in radicalisation and oversight.
To strengthen local coordination, the ISI allegedly recruited Mufti Irfan Ahmed Wagay, a cleric from Shopian, who helped in fund flow, weapons movement, and indoctrination. His involvement came to light after Jaish-e-Mohammad propaganda posters appeared in Nowgam, triggering a Jammu and Kashmir Police probe that eventually exposed the Faridabad module.
Wagay maintained contact with Dr Shaheen Saeed, responsible for recruitment and radicalisation. Other accused include Muzammil Ahmed Ganai, from whose Faridabad flat the explosives were seized; Adeel Ahmed Rather; and Dr Umar Nabi, who drove the car that exploded near the Red Fort.
The investigation continues as agencies piece together the operational chain, handler network, and foreign links behind the conspiracy.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Probe traces Red Fort blast conspiracy to ISI handler Faisal Iqbal and foreign-based opera

ISI’s Faisal Iqbal Key in Red Fort Blast Plot

Probe traces Red Fort blast conspiracy to ISI handler Faisal Iqbal and foreign-based opera

November 24, 2025 | 18:12 IST