Operation Sindoor: India Eliminates Top Terror Commanders Including Masood Azhar’s Kin in Retaliatory Strikes on Pakistan, PoK

In a significant and strategic counterterrorism operation, Indian armed forces launched a precision strike on nine key terror sites located across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), resulting in the elimination of five high-value terrorist operatives, including two close relatives of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.

The operation, codenamed “Operation Sindoor,” was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians two weeks ago.

According to official government sources, the Indian retaliation targeted the headquarters and major training camps of Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed, both of which have been involved in orchestrating numerous attacks on Indian soil over the years.

Key Highlights of the Operation

The coordinated offensive involved the deployment of advanced missile systems utilizing “niche technology” and precisely selected warheads to ensure minimal collateral damage while neutralizing critical terror infrastructure.

Unlike previous retaliatory actions, such as the 2019 Balakot airstrike following the Pulwama attack, which targeted a single terror facility, Operation Sindoor struck nine sites simultaneously, indicating a new level of strategic depth and operational planning by Indian defense forces.

Locations Targeted

The targeted terror locations were spread across both Pakistan and PoK, and included:

• Pakistan:
  • Markaz Taiba, Muridke (near Lahore): The LeT headquarters known for training the 26/11 Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab and U.S.-Pakistani LeT operative David Headley.
  • Markaz Subhanallah, Bahawalpur: The JeM headquarters and a major indoctrination hub.
  • Sarjal and Mehmona Joya, both in Sialkot.
• Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK):
  • Sawai Nala and Syedna Bilal in Muzaffarabad.
  • Gulpur and Abbas in Kotli.
  • Bhimber in Bhimber district.

Terrorists Eliminated

The government confirmed the elimination of five prominent terror leaders, each closely linked to the operational and ideological leadership of JeM and LeT. These include:

1. Mudassar Khadian Khas (alias Mudassar / Abu Jundal)
   A top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, Mudassar, was the chief of operations at Markaz Taiba in Muridke. He played a central role in planning and overseeing recruitment and training for LeT cadres. Known for his organizational skills, Mudassar was reportedly a key strategist in launching attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
2. Hafiz Muhammed Jameel
   A senior figure in Jaish-e-Mohammed, Jameel was the elder brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar. He headed Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur, a major propaganda and training center. His responsibilities included raising funds, recruiting operatives, and coordinating logistics for JeM activities.
3. Mohammad Yusuf Azhar (alias Ustad Ji / Mohd Salim / Ghosi Sahab)
   Another brother-in-law of Masood Azhar, Yusuf Azha, was a long-standing member of JeM’s core leadership. He was instrumental in training cadres in advanced weaponry and guerrilla tactics. He is wanted by Indian authorities for his role in the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and has allegedly been behind several major attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
4. Khalid (alias Abu Akasha)
   A seasoned LeT commander, Khalid had been actively involved in multiple cross-border infiltration and terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Intelligence sources say he was also coordinating the smuggling of weapons from Afghanistan into Pakistan for redistribution to terror groups.
5. Mohammad Hassan Khan
   Son of Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, JeM’s operational commander in PoK, Hassan Kh, was a key field coordinator involved in logistics and execution of terror plots in India. His role was pivotal in connecting operatives across the border and facilitating arms transfers and the movement of trained militants.

Strategic and Diplomatic Implications

India’s decision to carry out targeted strikes deep within Pakistani territory, including beyond the Line of Control (LoC), marks a significant shift in its counter-terrorism doctrine, especially in its resolve to neutralize threats at their source.

The operation underlines India’s growing confidence in its intelligence capabilities, its advanced precision-strike arsenal, and its willingness to act decisively in the face of provocation.

The killing of two of Masood Azhar’s close relatives may also deal a serious blow to JeM’s command structure, potentially destabilizing the group’s internal cohesion.

The loss of senior operatives with training and fundraising responsibilities could further disrupt the operational capacity of the organization in the near term.

As India continues to remain on high alert along its borders, defense and intelligence agencies are closely monitoring the aftermath of the strikes and are prepared for any retaliatory moves by Pakistan-based terror groups.