The Indian Army confirmed on May 11 that more than 100 terrorists, including high-value operatives linked to significant attacks against India, were neutralized during Operation Sindoor. This operation targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians.
Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations, stated, “These precision strikes have resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists, including key figures such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed—individuals directly linked to the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.”
Among the deceased operatives, Yusuf Azhar, the brother-in-law of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was a primary target. He was wanted for his role in the Indian Airlines flight IC-814 hijacking, which led to the controversial release of Masood Azhar from Indian custody in 1999. Azhar was also instrumental in training and coordinating terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdul Malik Rauf, a senior commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) designated as a global terrorist by the United States, and Mudasir Ahmed, head of LeT’s central headquarters at Markaz Taiba in Muridke, were also among those killed.
Lieutenant General Ghai emphasized that Operation Sindoor was launched with a “clear military objective to punish the masterminds and planners of terror while systematically dismantling their operational infrastructure.” He reiterated India’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism.
Regarding the identification of targets, the DGMO mentioned, “Infamous locations like Muridke, which have produced global terrorists like Ajmal Kasab and David Headley, were among our primary targets.”
Air Marshal AK Bharti also addressed the media, revealing that the Indian Air Force performed precision strikes on fortified terrorist training camps in Bahawalpur and Muridke, both deep within Pakistani territory. “Following thorough target system analysis, air-to-surface guided munitions were deployed to ensure maximum effectiveness with minimal collateral damage,” Bharti stated.
Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7, just days after Pakistan-backed terrorists initiated violence in Pahalgam. Through this operation, India has signaled its zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, reaffirming its commitment to decisively address terror networks operating from across the border.
