India’s Operation Sindoor, conducted in the early hours of May 7, marks one of the most significant cross-border counterterrorism operations in recent years, targeting the operational core of Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). By striking nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), India not only inflicted substantial material damage but also eliminated some of the most high-value terrorist operatives sheltered by the Pakistani establishment.
Key Terrorists Eliminated in Operation Sindoor
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Mudassar Khadian Khas (Abu Jundal) – A senior LeT operative and chief of Markaz Taiba in Muridke, the group's ideological headquarters. He was a symbolic and strategic figure, deeply embedded within LeT's organizational structure. His state-honoured funeral—with wreaths laid by Army Chief General Asim Munir and Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz—underscores the deep and troubling nexus between terror leaders and Pakistan’s military-political elite. The presence of a serving Lieutenant General and the Punjab IG Police at the funeral further reveals institutional patronage.
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Hafiz Muhammed Jameel – A key JeM ideologue and the eldest brother-in-law of Maulana Masood Azhar, JeM’s founder. He headed the Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur and was crucial in radicalizing youth and coordinating fundraising networks, especially among diaspora supporters. His death is a major ideological blow to JeM.
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Mohammad Yusuf Azhar (Ustad Ji) – Another brother-in-law of Masood Azhar and a central figure in JeM’s weapons training operations. He was a wanted figure for his role in the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, which led to the release of Masood Azhar and boosted JeM’s formation. His elimination closes a significant chapter in India’s pursuit of 1999 hijack case justice.
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Khalid (Abu Akasha) – A LeT commander, long active in Kashmir insurgency and in smuggling arms from Afghanistan. His funeral in Faisalabad, attended by senior Pakistani officials, again highlights the state’s complicity in shielding and honouring militants.
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Mohammad Hassan Khan – A JeM operative and son of Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, JeM’s top operational commander. His role likely spanned logistical support and coordination of operations across the LoC.
Strategic and Symbolic Impact
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Operational Disruption: The neutralization of these figures severely affects both LeT and JeM's command structures, propaganda networks, and training operations.
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Political Messaging: The funerals — especially with high-profile military and government participation — are a stark signal to the international community that Pakistan’s deep state continues to glorify and shield terrorists, undermining its repeated claims of cracking down on terror groups.
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India’s Deterrence Doctrine: Operation Sindoor aligns with India’s new doctrine of preemptive and punitive strikes, treating terrorism as an act of war, and targeting not only infrastructure but also leadership networks.
