Urdu pamphlet urges jihad, glorifies Iran’s Israel strike, cites Ghazwa-e-Hind prophecy.
NEW DELHI: A newly circulated Urdu-language column—believed to be authored by Hifzullah Talha, a recurring pseudonymous voice—has openly called for armed jihad against India under the banner of ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’, and glorified Iran’s recent missile strike on Israel as a model of “complete retaliation” against the enemies of Islam.
The six-page pamphlet, titled ‘Fatah Ya Shahadat – Madinah Madinah’ (Victory or Martyrdom – Madinah Madinah), was released earlier this week and appeared in the latest issue of Haftrozah al-Qalam, the official weekly Urdu magazine published by the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
The call for renewed violence on Indian soil comes just days after Indian airstrikes killed at least five senior JeM commanders. The strikes, carried out under Operation Sindoor, also led to the deaths of at least 12 family members of JeM chief Masood Azhar and caused significant structural damage to the group’s headquarters in Bahawalpur, in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Although the name of the publication is not explicitly mentioned in the document, its tone, authorship style, ideological framing, and language are consistent with Haftrozah al-Qalam’s known content. The pamphlet has been shared digitally and is circulating in closed messaging groups across Pakistan and parts of Kashmir.
The document urges Muslim youth—particularly in India and Kashmir—to abandon modern distractions such as social media and material comforts and prepare for what it describes as the “practical phase of jihad.” It criticises Indian Muslims and religious scholars (ulama) for their silence, accusing them of betrayal and moral cowardice, while glorifying Kashmiri terrorists as “shaheed parindey” (heavenly birds).
It refers to Kashmir as the “doorway to Ghazwa-e-Hind,” invoking the apocalyptic prophecy often used by radical groups to justify armed conflict against India. The pamphlet eulogises past Kashmiri “martyrs” and calls on Indian Muslims to stop “seeking security in fear” and instead embrace sacrifice for Islam.
Though his identity remains unclear, Talha is likely either a senior Jaish ideologue—possibly including Azhar himself—or a collective pseudonym used for internal propaganda.
Notably, in a significant shift, the pamphlet praises Iran’s June 2025 missile-and-drone barrage on Israel as a righteous example of Islamic response. This is despite JeM’s traditionally Deobandi-Sunni leanings and past theological distance from Shia Iran. The document claims that “when Iran retaliated completely, Allah’s help descended,” urging Muslims in India and elsewhere to “stop watching and start preparing.” This cross-sectarian ideological appeal reflects a growing trend in jihadist messaging—uniting disparate terrorist groups through shared opposition to Israel, the US, and India.
Among its closing appeals, the pamphlet calls on readers to “join the caravan of victory or martyrdom,” “break the chains of silence and rise like the warriors of Gaza,” and “let not Iran alone carry the flag of resistance.”
Security analysts see the pamphlet as part of a renewed radicalisation campaign targeting youth in North India and the Kashmir Valley. It is also believed to be part of a broader effort to re-energise dormant terror cells or inspire lone-wolf attacks by offering spiritual justification for violence against India.
Possession or circulation of such material falls under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Haftrozah al-Qalam, believed to have carried the original column, is known as the ideological organ of JeM. It has previously published writings by Masood Azhar and tributes to slain Kashmiri terrorists.
