In a powerful response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Indian armed forces launched a surprise air strike operation named ‘Operation Sindoor’ during the early hours of May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation aimed to neutralize key terrorists responsible for cross-border attacks and dismantle the operational network of groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Among the hundreds killed in the targeted strikes, five high-profile terrorist commanders were identified as primary casualties.
Profiles of Eliminated Terrorists
One of the most significant eliminations was that of Mudassar Khadian Khas, also known as Abu Jundal, a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba figure and in-charge of Markaz Taiba in Muridke. His prominence was evident as his funeral was marked by a guard of honour from the Pakistan Army, with wreaths laid in his memory by the Pak Army Chief and Punjab CM. The funeral prayer, led by Hafiz Abdul Rauf, was held at a government school and was attended by senior military and police officers.
Another key figure neutralized was Hafiz Muhammed Jameel, the elder brother-in-law of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar. He was in charge of Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur and was instrumental in radicalizing youth and raising funds for JeM. Also killed was Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, alias Ustad Ji, a known weapons trainer and Masood Azhar’s brother-in-law. Yusuf was wanted for his role in the IC-814 hijacking case and multiple attacks in Jammu & Kashmir.
Khalid, also known as Abu Akasha, was a Lashkar operative with deep involvement in arms smuggling from Afghanistan and orchestrating terror attacks in Kashmir. His funeral in Faisalabad was attended by senior Pakistani army officials. Lastly, Mohammad Hassan Khan, son of JeM’s operational commander in PoK, played a pivotal role in coordinating terror activities across the region.
Airports Closed Due to Escalation
In response to heightened tensions, India enforced airspace restrictions and closed over 30 airports in vulnerable regions. The list of closed airports includes Amritsar, Pathankot, Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh, Leh, Shimla, Kangra, Bhuntar, Gaggal, Bathinda, Halwara, Udhampur, Awantipora, Adampur, Ambala, Sirsa, Suratgarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Phalodi, Nal, Jaipur, Hindon, Agra, Gwalior, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, and Banaras. These measures reflect the seriousness of the military standoff and the Indian armed forces’ preparedness to counter further threats.
