In what is being described as India’s most significant military response since Balakot in 2019, the country carried out a large-scale counter-terror strike targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Named Operation Sindoor, the strikes reportedly hit nine high-value locations, including the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur, following the killing of 26 civilians in a recent attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Among those reported dead is Abdul Rauf Azhar, brother of JeM chief Masood Azhar and one of India’s most wanted terrorists. The BJP publicized his death on social media, posting his photograph with the label “eliminated,” and attributing his demise to the targeted strikes. However, the Indian military and government have not yet released an official statement confirming this claim.
Speaking to India Today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed the speculation, stating that while information is being monitored, verified details would be provided at the appropriate time. “We are aware of the chatter online, but updates will follow through official channels,” he noted.
Masood Azhar Calls Death of 14 Kin in Airstrike a Blessing
Masood Azhar, in a message attributed to him, acknowledged that multiple members of his family and aides were killed in the assault. He claimed that 14 individuals, including five children, his sister, her husband, and other close relatives and supporters, perished in the bombing of the group’s headquarters. The statement described their deaths as a spiritual blessing, calling them “guests of Allah” and expressing no sorrow or regret.
Rauf Azhar has been a key figure in orchestrating some of the most high-profile terrorist attacks in India. He masterminded the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814, which led to the release of three terrorists including his brother Masood Azhar after the plane was diverted to Kandahar. That hijacking ultimately enabled Omar Saeed Sheikh to be released from prison, who would later go on to kidnap and murder journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan.
His involvement doesn’t end there. Rauf Azhar also played roles in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, earning him a place on both Indian and global terrorist watchlists. He served as JeM’s operational head and at times as its acting chief, also overseeing recruitment, intelligence, and suicide mission planning.
Rauf Azhar Named Terrorist by US
In 2010, the U.S. Department of Treasury formally designated him a global terrorist, citing his efforts to mobilise militants and coordinate attacks in both India and Afghanistan. In 2022, India attempted to have him blacklisted under the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, but the move was blocked by China on the grounds of requiring “more evidence.”
In a moving reaction to the reported killing, Judea Pearl, the father of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, posted a statement expressing cautious relief. While acknowledging that Rauf was not directly responsible for his son’s death, he stressed that Rauf’s orchestration of the IC-814 hijack had directly enabled the chain of events that led to it. “He was part of the machinery that set Danny’s fate in motion,” Pearl said.
Rauf was reportedly being treated in a military hospital in Pakistan before he succumbed to injuries sustained during the strike. Though BJP is celebrating his death as a major blow to cross-border terrorism, the absence of an official confirmation from the Indian government leaves room for uncertainty.
As Operation Sindoor continues to be analyzed for its geopolitical impact, both strategic and humanitarian questions loom large. The global community is watching closely, and further official statements are awaited.
