New Delhi: India's Operation Sindoor has reportedly eliminated around a dozen high-value terrorists (HVTs), most notably Abdul Rauf Azhar, a significant operative within Jaish-e-Mohammad and the architect of the IC-814 hijacking. His death marks a crucial breakthrough in the global fight against terrorism. Azhar was linked to the 2002 abduction and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, having facilitated the release of his killer, Omar Saeed Sheikh.
The BJP recently claimed that Abdul Rauf Azhar, Masood’s younger brother and a well-known terrorist, was killed in India's Operation Sindoor aimed at eliminating terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) after a deadly attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. The operation included targeting Jaish headquarters, with the BJP confirming Abdul Rauf Azhar's elimination.
Responsible For IC-814 Hijack, Pulwama, Parliament Attack
At just 24, Azhar became notorious for the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814, which led to the release of his brother, Maulana Masood Azhar, who established Jaish-e-Mohammad, thereby elevating Rauf to its supreme commander. As Masood's deputy, Rauf orchestrated numerous devastating terrorist strikes against India, including the 2001 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly attack, the Indian Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot airbase incident, and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, which claimed 40 CRPF lives.
Azhar's core group operated from Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, involving key figures like Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, his brothers, and Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri. They included wanted individuals linked to the 2016 Nagrota Attack and an assault on the Indian consulate in Afghanistan. After a recent attack, Masood Azhar expressed deep sorrow, stating he lost ten family members and wished he had died with them, referring to their deaths as preordained blessings.
Abdul Rauf Azhar was previously involved in the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines IC 814. The attack on the Jaish headquarters led to their deaths, significantly impacting Jaish-e-Mohammad. Rauf's death was a striking blow to the terror organization, marking the end of his prolonged evasion.
Masood Azhar, aged 56, is a UN-sanctioned global terrorist implicated in multiple attacks in India. Despite evidence of his presence in Pakistan, authorities there deny knowledge of his location, while India has struggled to place Azhar on international terrorist lists, facing challenges largely due to China's protective stance regarding its interests in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Masood Azhar's prominence in the global jihadist arena surged following his 1999 release, part of a hostage swap for Indian Airlines passengers during the Kandahar hijacking. He subsequently established Jaish-e-Mohammed and orchestrated key terrorist activities against India, notably the 2001 Parliament attack.
