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Operation Sindoor | Jaish chief Masood Azhar's brother Abdul Rauf, Air India hijack planner, likely killed in India's strike on Pak

Navashree Nandini
Written By Navashree Nandini
Published: May 08, 2025, 09:41 IST | Updated: May 08, 2025, 09:41 IST
Operation Sindoor | Jaish chief Masood Azhar's brother Abdul Rauf, Air India hijack planner, likely killed in India's strike on Pak

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India News, Pakistan | The brother of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, Abdul Rauf Azhar Rauf has likely been killed in India's Operation Sindoor on Pakistan's terror targets.

The brother of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar, Abdul Rouf Azhar has likely been killed in India's Operation Sindoor on Pakistan's terror targets. Abdul Rouf Azhar rose to global prominence with the inception of JeM in 2000 and was the terrorist organistation's deputy chief when it was banned in 2007. Earlier, a letter said to be issued by Masood Azhar claimed that as many as 14 members of Masood Azhar's family and four aides were killed in India's targetted strike in Pakistan's Bahawalpur on May 7. Those killed included his sister, her husband, nephew, niece and others.

Abdul Rouf Azhar popped up on the terror map when an Indian Airlines flight (IC-814) from Kathmandu to Delhi was hijacked and taken to Taliban-controlled Kandahar in December 1999. The hijacking was planned as a plot to secure the release of his brother Masood Azhar from Kot Balwal jail of Jammu. Abdul Azhar was under US sanctions since December 2010 for acting for or on behalf of the group.

Following this, he orchestrated several more attacks on Indian establishments, including the Indian Parliament attack in 2000, the attack on the makeshift Ayodhya Ram temple in 2005, the attack at the Indian Air Force’s Pathankot base in 2016, and the Pulwama attack in 2019 that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

After the Pathankot attack, the National Investigation Agency sought a red corner notice from Interpol against Azhar. The global agency issued a notice stating Azhar was wanted for waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war against the government of India, assaulting the president, governor, etc, with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power besides being member of terrorist gang or organisation among other offences.

The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 at 1.05am to 1.30 am. Briefing the country on Operation Sindoor, women officers Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri informed that India exercised its right to respond and hit nine terror targets, including terror camps and launchpads, in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). They said that India's actions were measured and non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible.

Pahalgam terror attack

A terror attack on April 22 in Baisaran Valley of Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam district killed 26 tourists. An offshoot of the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) - The Resistance Front (TRF) - claimed responsibility for the attack.

After the attack, India launched a series of actions against Pakistan. The Indian government put into abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, expelled its diplomats, called back Indian officials from Islamabad, and closed the Attari border, its airspace for Pakistani flights and ships, parcels and imports from Pakistan. New Delhi has also blocked the Instagram accounts of several Pakistani cricketers and celebrities.

PM Modi had said, "I say to the whole world. India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth." World leaders have urged both countries to exercise restraint but have also sided with India in its fight against terror.

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