Mumbai: In a significant blow to Pakistan-based terrorist networks, the Indian Army confirmed on Sunday that multiple high-value terrorists, including those involved in the 1999 Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama attack, were among the over 100 militants killed in Operation Sindoor. The operation, launched in the early hours of May 7, targeted nine terror camps deep within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
#WATCH | Delhi: DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai says, "It set into motion a very diligent and microscopic scarring of the terror landscape across the borders and the identification of terror camps and training sites. The locations that emerged were numerous, but as we… pic.twitter.com/46s0Arka6g
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2025
“Those strikes across those nine terror hubs left more than 100 terrorists killed, including high-value targets such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed, who were involved in the hijacking of IC-814 and the Pulwama blast,” Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai said in an Army press briefing.
#WATCH | Delhi: DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai says "…Those strikes across those nine terror hubs left more than 100 terrorists killed, including high value targets such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudasir Ahmed that were involved in the hijack of IC814 and the… pic.twitter.com/IeH6Je6STE
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2025
High-Value Targets Eliminated
Yusuf Azhar, the brother-in-law of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was a key figure in the IC-814 hijacking, which resulted in the release of his brother-in-law in 1999. Azhar, who oversaw weapons training and operational planning for JeM, had been a priority target for Indian security forces.
Abdul Malik Rauf, a high-ranking commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was another significant target. Designated a global terrorist by the United States, Rauf played a key role in planning and executing attacks against Indian forces and civilians.
Mudasir Ahmed, a senior Lashkar operative, managed the Markaz Taiba in Muridke, the headquarters of the LeT, a known breeding ground for some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists, including 26/11 attacker Ajmal Kasab.
Strategic Precision Strikes
During the briefing, Air Marshal AK Bharti highlighted the meticulous planning that went into selecting the nine high-value targets. “Nefarious places such as Muridke, the hub center of Lashkar-e-Taiba, have over the years bred infamous characters such as Ajmal Kasab and the likes of David Headley,” he said.
“Of the nine designated targets, the Indian Air Force was assigned the notorious terrorist training camps in Bahawalpur and Muridke, both located deep within Pakistani territory. After thorough target system analysis, we executed precision strikes using air-to-surface guided munitions to ensure effective engagement and minimal collateral damage,” Bharti added.
Operation Sindoor – A Message to Terrorists
Lt. Gen. Ghai emphasized that Operation Sindoor was designed with a clear military aim to punish the perpetrators of terror and dismantle their support networks. “This operation sends a clear message – there are no safe havens for terrorists beyond our borders,” he stated.
The strikes come as part of a broader strategy to enforce India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. With these successful strikes, India has reiterated its resolve to target and eliminate terrorists threatening its security, regardless of the geographic or political constraints.
Impact and Global Reactions
The operation has further strained India-Pakistan relations, with Pakistan denying the scale of losses claimed by India, even as global powers closely monitor the developing situation. With further escalations possible, the Indian military remains on high alert, prepared for any eventuality as the region navigates a period of heightened tension.
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