The Indian Army on Sunday announced that over 100 terrorists, including key figures behind the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, were eliminated during Operation Sindoor, a large-scale offensive targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Speaking at a press briefing, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), confirmed the operation struck major terror hubs, killing high-value operatives such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed.
Yusuf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, had been wanted in the IC-814 hijacking that ultimately led to the release of Masood Azhar. He played a central role in JeM’s arms training programs and terror activities across Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdul Malik Rauf, a senior commander in Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was previously listed as a global terrorist by the U.S., while Mudasir Ahmed oversaw operations at Markaz Taiba, LeT’s headquarters in Muridke.
Lt Gen Ghai described Operation Sindoor as a mission with a “clear military objective” to punish those responsible for terrorism against India and dismantle their infrastructure. He reiterated the country’s firm stance against terrorism, saying, “This operation reflects India’s resolve and zero tolerance towards terror.”