New Delhi, Dec 13:Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar has admitted that he suffered severe consequences after a failed attempt to escape from Jammu’s Kot Bhalwal Jail during the 1990s. The revelation surfaced in an audio clip of a speech he recently delivered in Pakistan.
In the purported recording, Azhar described how he had secretly dug a tunnel inside the high-security prison, planning to flee after months of preparation. However, jail authorities reportedly discovered the tunnel on the very day of his planned escape, leading to a brutal crackdown on him and other inmates involved.
“The tunnel was discovered by them on the last day of my escape plan,” Azhar recounted, adding that the failed attempt subjected him to harsh treatment and tighter restrictions inside the jail. “Even today, I still fear those jail officers,” he said, recalling the beatings and punishment that followed. After the incident, prisons across the region reportedly reinforced security and imposed stricter rules.
Azhar’s remarks corroborate India’s long-held claim that Pakistan continues to shelter and support terrorists who operate against India with impunity.
Azhar, one of India’s most wanted terrorists, entered India in February 1994 under a fake Portuguese passport with the mission to spread jihad in Jammu and Kashmir and recruit militants. He was captured in Anantnag later that year and imprisoned in Kot Bhalwal until 1999.
During his incarceration, militants made multiple unsuccessful attempts to secure his release. However, in December 1999, the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 to Kandahar forced the Indian government to release Azhar in exchange for the hostages.
Following his release, he founded the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which later masterminded several major terror attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Azhar is currently believed to be operating from Pakistan, despite multiple international efforts to bring him to justice.
