Who was Abdul Rauf Azhar? Mastermind behind the IC-814 hijack and Daniel Pearl’s murder, killed in ‘Operation Sindoor’

In a significant development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) confirmed the death of Abdul Rauf Azhar, the younger brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader Masood Azhar, during India's military operation 'Sindoor'. Azhar, a key figure in various terror activities, was killed in an airstrike on May 7, 2025, alongside several members of his family. This strike targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, including one Nepali national.

Who was Abdul Rauf Azhar?

Abdul Rauf Azhar was most infamously known as one of the masterminds behind the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999. The flight, en route from Kathmandu to Delhi, was diverted to Kandahar, Afghanistan, by Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militants, leading to the release of several terrorists, including Omar Saeed Sheikh, who later kidnapped and murdered American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. Rauf Azhar was also implicated in the Pathankot attack in 2016 and the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, both acts attributed to JeM.

Rauf Azhar was officially designated a terrorist by the US Treasury in 2010, for his role in recruiting operatives and planning attacks in India and Afghanistan. After his brother, Masood Azhar, went underground, Rauf Azhar assumed control of JeM in 2007, becoming a central figure in the group’s operations.

Azhar’s role in the IC-814 hijacking had led to release of Omar Saeed Sheikh, who later kidnapped and killed Daniel Pearl.


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Operation Sindoor: A retaliatory strike

The airstrikes carried out on May 7 were part of 'Operation Sindoor', a well-coordinated operation that targeted nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and PoK. These strikes were directly linked to the Pahalgam attack, which saw the deaths of 26 individuals, including a Nepali national. The operation, which focused on precision and minimised escalation, destroyed key JeM strongholds, including its headquarters in Bahawalpur, where Abdul Rauf Azhar was reportedly present. The Indian military's statement confirmed that "the operation was focused, measured and non-escalatory", emphasising that no Pakistani military targets were hit.

Rauf Azhar's link to Daniel Pearl’s murder

The airstrike on Bahawalpur also carries symbolic significance, particularly for the family of Daniel Pearl, the American journalist who was abducted and murdered by JeM operatives. In an emotional statement, Asra Nomani, a colleague of Pearl, recalled his visit to Bahawalpur in 2001 to investigate terror activities. She reflected on how Pearl's trip to the city to report on militant offices had tragically led to his abduction and beheading. The link between Azhar’s death and Pearl's murder brought a sense of closure to many who had long sought justice for the journalist’s brutal killing.

Global reactions to the strike

The death of Abdul Rauf Azhar has been met with mixed reactions, both in India and globally. American activist Amy Mek, founder of the RAIR Foundation, praised the strikes, calling them “justice for the brutal murder of American-Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl”. She noted that India’s actions had struck at the core of terror infrastructure and sent a clear message that the world would not tolerate the protection of militants responsible for atrocities. "India will not stand by while radicals slaughter non-Muslims," she added.

India's airstrikes were aimed at taking out terror facilities involved in orchestrating attacks on Indian soil. These included the Markaz Subhan Allah, a 15-acre facility located near Bahawalpur, which served as the operational base of JeM. The strikes not only hit the headquarters but also killed several high-ranking members of the terror group, including Rauf Azhar and members of Masood Azhar's family. Reports suggest that 10 of Azhar’s relatives, including his sister and brother-in-law, were also killed.

Operation Sindoor, while a tactical response to the Pahalgam attack, has also been interpreted by many as a significant moment in the fight against terrorism in the region. The successful strike on Azhar’s hideout has been seen by some as a long-awaited justice for the victims of JeM’s attacks, including Daniel Pearl. This operation has raised important questions about the continued harbouring of terror groups in Pakistan and the role of global powers in addressing the threat posed by such organisations.