In a major counter-terrorism breakthrough, India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7 led to the elimination of key terrorist leaders from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, one of the masterminds of the IC-814 hijacking.
According to defence sources, nine terror camps were hit in the precision strikes—five in PoK and four inside Pakistan—targeting operatives deeply involved in radical indoctrination, weapons training, and the coordination of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Among those killed:
- Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar, and a key handler of weapons training, was wanted in the 1999 Indian Airlines IC-814 hijacking.
- Hafiz Muhammed Jameel, eldest brother-in-law of Masood Azhar, ran the Markaz Subhan Allah centre in Bahawalpur and was a central figure in youth indoctrination and JeM fundraising.
- Mohammad Hassan Khan, operational commander of JeM in PoK, was instrumental in directing cross-border terror operations into India.
From LeT:
- Mudassar Khadian Khas, in charge of Markaz Taiba in Muridke, was killed and received a guard of honour by the Pakistan Army. His funeral included high-profile attendees, including a serving Lt General, Punjab Police IG, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, with wreaths laid on behalf of the Pakistan Army Chief.
- Khalid alias Abu Akasha, a weapons smuggler and militant involved in attacks in Kashmir, was also neutralised. His funeral in Faisalabad was reportedly attended by senior army officials and the Deputy Commissioner.
The presence of top Pakistani military and government officials at the funerals, including wreaths and tributes from state authorities, exposes Pakistan’s deep-rooted links with terrorist groups, despite its official denials, Indian officials noted.
The Indian Armed Forces have reiterated that the strikes were precision-targeted to avoid civilian casualties while sending a strong message to terror groups and their state backers across the border.