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Delhi Red Fort Blast (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: The deadly November 2025 Red Fort blast in Delhi, which killed 11 people and injured several others, has been officially linked to al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), according to a new report by a United Nations Security Council monitoring body.
The attack, carried out using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) near the historic Red Fort, caused multiple casualties and extensive damage to property. The UN report said the incident was attributed to AQIS, an affiliate of the global terror organisation al-Qaeda.
The development comes after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet in May against 10 accused in connection with the blast.
The investigation identified Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH), an AQIS-linked outfit, as being connected to the attack. Investigators named Umar un-Nabi, a former assistant professor at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, as the alleged main perpetrator who died in the explosion.
The blast occurred on November 10, 2025, near the Red Fort area and triggered a major security investigation across the country.
The UN Security Council’s sanctions monitoring team said AQIS has transformed from a weakened organisation into a more structured regional terror network.
According to the report, the group is increasingly operating through small, decentralised cells rather than large formations, making detection and disruption more difficult for security agencies.
The report also raised concerns that AQIS is attempting to establish operational networks in Bangladesh while maintaining activities in parts of Afghanistan.
The report highlighted that terror organisations including al-Qaeda and Islamic State continue efforts to develop advanced capabilities, including chemical and biological weapons.
The monitoring team noted that extremist groups are increasingly using online platforms, digital tools and cryptocurrency networks for propaganda, recruitment and financing.
The report also mentioned concerns over the misuse of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, by terrorist supporters for information gathering and propaganda distribution.
The UN assessment comes amid growing concerns over the spread of al-Qaeda-linked groups in the region.
The report said AQIS has continued to maintain logistics and financial networks while adapting its operations to avoid traditional counter-terrorism measures.
The attribution of the Red Fort blast to AQIS places the 2025 Delhi attack within the broader network of al-Qaeda-linked activities identified by international security agencies.
