New Delhi, May 10
In a major counter-terror operation, India neutralised five high-profile terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in precision strikes carried out under Operation Sindoor on May 7. The strikes targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including key nerve centres of the banned outfits, officials said on Saturday.Mastermind of IC-814 Hijack Among Those Killed
Among the five terrorists eliminated was Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, the 1999 IC-814 hijacking mastermind and brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar. Yusuf Azhar was killed in a strike on the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur, where he was reportedly conducting weapons training with family members present.Hafiz Muhammed Jameel, another brother-in-law of Masood Azhar and head of Markaz Subhan Allah, a major JeM training centre, was also eliminated. Jameel was deeply involved in radicalising youth and spearheading fundraising activities for JeM.
Lashkar Commanders Also Eliminated
Indian forces also targeted Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) base in Muridke, where Mudassar Khadian Khas, alias Mudassar and Abu Jundal, was killed. As the in-charge of Markaz Taiba, he played a central role in LeT operations. His funeral drew widespread attention after videos surfaced showing him being accorded a guard of honour by Pakistan Army personnel.In another major blow to LeT, Khalid alias Abu Akasha, known for his involvement in multiple attacks in Jammu & Kashmir and weapons smuggling from Afghanistan, was killed. Senior Pakistan Army officials and the local Deputy Commissioner reportedly attended his funeral in Faisalabad.
JeM Commander’s Son Also Killed
The strikes also eliminated Mohammad Hassan Khan, son of Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, the JeM's operational commander in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Hassan Khan was responsible for coordinating terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.Pakistan’s State-Terror Nexus Exposed
According to officials, these targeted killings have not only weakened the leadership of LeT and JeM but also exposed Pakistan’s direct involvement with terror groups.The funerals of the slain terrorists were attended by serving Pakistan Army officers, Punjab Police officials, and included wreaths laid on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Nawaz Sharif and niece of PM Shehbaz Sharif.
One of the funerals was even led by Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a designated global terrorist from Jamaat al-Dawah, further revealing the extent of Pakistan’s collusion with these proscribed organisations.
These developments underline India's intensified crackdown on cross-border terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives. Operation Sindoor marks a decisive shift in India’s counter-terrorism strategy.