ISLAMABAD: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has leveled seriousallegations against Pakistan, claiming its intelligence agenciesorchestrated a widespread strike plot across major Indian cities. Accordingto Fadnavis, Indian security forces successfully dismantled the conspiracy,preventing catastrophic attacks. He described the recent explosion nearDelhi’s Red Fort Metro station as a desperate retaliatory act by Pakistanielements, underscoring escalating cross-border tensions. The statement,delivered during a high-level security review, has heightened concerns overregional stability.
The Delhi blast on November 10, 2025, claimed several lives and injureddozens, occurring shortly after authorities in Faridabad uncoveredexplosives and arrested suspects linked to the plot. Fadnavis emphasizedthat intelligence intercepts revealed plans for synchronized assaults inMumbai, Delhi, and other urban centers, thwarted by vigilant operations. Hepraised the coordinated efforts of state and central agencies, vowing zerotolerance for such threats. Pakistani officials have denied involvement,labeling the accusations as baseless propaganda.
In response to the incident, Fadnavis directed enhanced security protocolsacross Maharashtra, including intensified patrols at key installations andtransportation hubs. Mumbai’s railway stations and vital infrastructure nowfeature augmented bomb detection teams and quick response units. Similaralerts have rippled through other states, with the National InvestigationAgency probing potential transnational links. The chief minister urgedpublic vigilance, warning that adversarial forces seek to exploit communalfault lines amid India’s internal dynamics.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry dismissed Fadnavis’s remarks as inflammatoryrhetoric aimed at diverting attention from domestic challenges. Islamabadcountered by highlighting a simultaneous blast in the capital, attributingit to Indian sabotage. Diplomatic channels remain strained, with calls forde-escalation from international observers. Analysts warn that mutualrecriminations could precipitate further military posturing along the Lineof Control, complicating peace initiatives.
The unfolding narrative reflects deepening mistrust between thenuclear-armed neighbors, rooted in historical animosities and recentskirmishes. Fadnavis’s forthright address signals a hardening Indianstance, potentially influencing bilateral dialogues. As investigationsprogress, clarity on the perpetrators’ identities will be crucial inaverting a broader confrontation and restoring fragile equilibrium in SouthAsia.