Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 10: In a swift and calculated response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, India launched a high-intensity retaliatory strike dubbed Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The operation targeted multiple terror infrastructure hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), neutralising five most-wanted terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), including the key mastermind of the 1999 IC-814 hijacking.
High-value targets neutralised
Among those killed was Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, also known by aliases including Ustadji and Mohammad Salim. A senior JeM leader, Yusuf Azhar was the brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and one of the architects of the IC-814 hijacking that led to the release of several dreaded terrorists in exchange for hostages. He was killed in a precision strike on the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur, where he was reportedly training cadres.
Also eliminated was Hafiz Muhammed Jameel, another brother-in-law of Masood Azhar and head of Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, a major training and indoctrination hub for JeM operatives. Jameel was deeply involved in radicalizing youth and fundraising for the outfit.
From the Lashkar-e-Taiba side, Mudassar Khadian Khas, also known as Abu Jundal, was killed. As head of the Markaz Taiba in Muridke, he held a senior position in LeT’s operations.
Notably, his funeral received military honours from the Pakistan Army, with wreaths placed on behalf of Army chief and Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz. Videos of the ceremony, including a guard of honour, have surfaced on social media, sparking outrage and highlighting Pakistan's alleged complicity in shielding terrorists.
Another LeT terrorist, Khalid, also known as Abu Akasha, was killed in the strikes. Khalid was linked to several attacks in Jammu & Kashmir and was involved in arms smuggling from Afghanistan. His funeral in Faisalabad was attended by senior Pakistani Army officials and the local Deputy Commissioner, further indicating state-level patronage.
The fifth terrorist eliminated was Mohammad Hassan Khan, the son of JeM’s operational commander in PoJK, Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri. Hassan Khan played a key role in coordinating attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and was seen as a rising strategic planner within the group.
Pakistan's State collusion under scrutiny
The funerals of these terrorists were attended by high-ranking Pakistani Army and police officials, and in several cases, funeral prayers were led by Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a globally designated terrorist affiliated with Jamaat-ud-Dawah. These events, held in public spaces including government schools, serve as potent evidence of the Pakistani state's ongoing collusion with terror groups, Indian officials asserted.
The presence of state dignitaries, military honours, and wreaths on behalf of senior Pakistani leaders have raised serious diplomatic concerns. Indian intelligence sources view these events as open testimony to Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism.
Tensions escalate
Following Operation Sindoor, tensions have heightened between India and Pakistan. While India maintains that the operation was a calibrated, counter-terror response, the developments have added to the already strained bilateral relations.
Strategic analysts see this as a clear shift in India’s counter-terrorism doctrine, with greater focus on pre-emptive and retaliatory strikes against state-protected terror sanctuaries.