India’s Armed Forces have carried out a major counter-terrorism offensive, codenamed Operation Sindoor, eliminating over 100 terrorists in a meticulously coordinated cross-border mission. This operation, which took place during the night of May 6-7, 2025, targeted terrorist training camps, launchpads, and command centers spread across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). The operation is being described as one of the most comprehensive and successful anti-terror missions in recent years.
Among those killed were several high-profile terrorists directly involved in some of the most devastating attacks on Indian soil in the last three decades:
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Abdul Rauf Azhar, the mastermind behind the 1999 IC-814 Indian Airlines hijacking, was among the top targets neutralized. A senior commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the younger brother of JeM chief Masood Azhar, Rauf had been on India’s most-wanted list for decades. He also played a role in orchestrating the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, which killed 40 CRPF personnel.
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Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, another close aide and relative of Masood Azhar, was also eliminated. He had long been involved in training recruits and overseeing logistics for attacks in Jammu & Kashmir. His death is seen as a significant blow to JeM’s operational command structure.
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Abu Jundal (Mudassar), believed to be the Lashkar-e-Taiba operations chief based at its headquarters in Muridke, was killed in a targeted airstrike. He was allegedly linked to several major terror plots, including the 2016 Nagrota army base attack and numerous infiltration attempts.
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Abdul Malik Rauf, another terrorist who played a dual role in both the IC-814 hijacking and Pulwama attack planning, was confirmed to be among the dead. Sources indicate he was killed in a drone strike in Balakot.
Operation Sindoor involved the Indian Army, Air Force, and intelligence agencies working in tight coordination. The mission was executed with the aid of precision-guided munitions, UAVs, satellite surveillance, and ground intelligence, enabling successful hits on high-value targets while minimizing collateral damage. Key terror camps were flattened in Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Muridke, which are known to house militants from JeM, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
According to top government and defense sources, this operation has dealt a severe and irreversible blow to the terror infrastructure backed by the Pakistani deep state. The Indian government emphasized that the mission was a response to continuing terror provocations and infiltration bids across the LoC, including the recent Pahalgam attack on a tourist bus.
The success of Operation Sindoor also carries symbolic importance: by eliminating perpetrators of long-pending crimes such as the IC-814 hijacking and Pulwama bombing, India has signaled a zero-tolerance policy on terrorism and delivered on its promise to bring justice, even if delayed.
