DHARAMSHALA: In a significant breakthrough in India’s counter-terror operations, Abdul Rauf Azhar, the operational head of terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed and a key figure behind the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, was *killed in a high-precision Indian strike under Operation Sindoor.
The operation targeted terror hubs in Pakistan’s Punjab province, specifically in Bahawalpur and Muridke, home to the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Indian officials confirmed on Thursday (May 8, 2025) that Rauf Azhar was among those neutralised in the strikes.
The strikes are being hailed as a major achievement, not just for their strategic depth, but for the dismantling of command structures within long-operating terror networks.
Rauf Azhar was UN-designated terrorist
Abdul Rauf Azhar, younger brother of UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar, played a central role in one of India’s darkest hostage crises.
In December 1999, he was a key conspirator in the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814, which was diverted from Kathmandu to Taliban-controlled Kandahar.
The hijacking ended with the release of three high-profile terrorists, including Omar Saeed Sheikh — the Al-Qaeda operative who later kidnapped and murdered Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl.
Rauf’s involvement in this operation elevated his standing within international jihadist circles and he went on to lead several strategic operations for Jaish-e-Mohammed across South Asia.
Top terrorists targeted, Jaish in disarray
Sources also revealed that India’s Bahawalpur strike claimed the lives of 10 family members of Masood Azhar, including his sister and brother-in-law.
Jaish itself has reportedly acknowledged these casualties in a statement. With both strategic operatives and family members eliminated, the group faces a significant leadership vacuum.
Despite being officially banned in Pakistan after the 2001 Parliament attack, Jaish-e-Mohammed has continued to operate under state protection, launching attacks on Indian soil, including the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault.
Sunil Chadha
