India has successfully eliminated one of its most wanted terrorists, Abdul Rauf Azhar, during Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Azhar, a major figure in Jaish-e Muhammad (JEM) and brother of its founder, Masood Azhar, was linked to multiple attacks on India, including the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 and the 2001 Indian parliamentary attack.
As JEM’s operational chief, Azhar was key in orchestrating numerous operations that led to significant violence against India. Notably, he was implicated in the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack and was labeled a terrorist by the U.S. in 2010. India attempted to blacklist him in 2022, but China blocked this effort.
His elimination is seen not only as a victory against terrorism but also as justice for victims, including Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, whose murder was facilitated by the 1999 hijacking. Indian officials emphasize that Azhar’s death marks a significant step toward accountability for his terrorist activities and those linked to Pearl’s tragic murder.
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