The Indian Army on Sunday confirmed the elimination of over 100 terrorists, including several high-value Pakistani operatives involved in the 1999 IC-814 Indian Airlines hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, during Operation Sindoor.
The operation, launched on May 7, targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in direct retaliation to the Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the media, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai said, “Those strikes across the nine terror hubs resulted in the neutralisation of more than 100 terrorists, including key figures such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed — individuals involved in the IC-814 hijack and the Pulwama attack.”
Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was a wanted terrorist for his role in the 1999 hijacking that led to Masood Azhar’s release from an Indian prison. He played a central role in JeM's terror operations, overseeing weapons training and orchestrating attacks in Kashmir.
Abdul Malik Rauf, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander designated a global terrorist by the United States, and Mudasir Ahmed, the head of LeT's Markaz Taiba headquarters in Muridke, were also among the high-value targets eliminated in the airstrikes.
Air Marshal AK Bharti, also present at the press conference, explained that the operation was meticulously planned and executed with a "clear military aim to punish the perpetrators and planners of terror, and to dismantle their infrastructure." He added that the Indian Air Force used precision-guided munitions in deep-strike operations to ensure maximum impact with minimal collateral damage.
According to the DGMO, the Indian Army specifically targeted terror infrastructure at 21 locations, including well-known camps in Muridke and Bahawalpur. “Muridke, a hub that has bred terrorists like Ajmal Kasab and David Headley, was a primary target,” he said.
However, India paid a price in the ongoing conflict. The Army confirmed that five Indian soldiers were martyred in cross-border action. “We have lost five bravehearts in the ongoing operation. Their sacrifice will not go in vain,” said Lt. Gen. Ghai, adding, “The conflict is not over. We are still in combat, and at this stage, we are not commenting on any further operational losses.”
Responding to Pakistan's claims of capturing Indian pilots, the Indian Air Force strongly denied the allegations. “All our pilots are safely back home. The claims made by Pakistan are completely false,” a senior IAF official stated.
On the Pakistani side, tensions have escalated, with the Pakistan DGMO reportedly reaching out to India, requesting a ceasefire and offering to initiate truce talks. Lt. Gen. Ghai confirmed, “Yes, the Pakistan DGMO has pleaded for a ceasefire and offered a truce. But if Pakistan backtracks, it must be prepared — we will hit back hard.”
When asked about the number of Pakistani jets brought down, Indian forces refused to speculate. “We are not in the business of guessing numbers. What we will say is: we have downed several Pakistani jets. And if Pakistan dares again, it knows exactly what we will do,” said a senior official.
The Indian forces also confirmed that Army personnel were present during the funerals of terrorists neutralised in the operation — a strong signal of India’s control and monitoring of the situation on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy affirmed its dominance in the maritime domain, stating it has complete operational superiority in the region. “The Indian Navy is fully deployed and dominating the maritime space. We are prepared for any escalation at sea,” an official stated.
Operation Sindoor, named after the red colour signifying sacrifice and valour, continues as Indian forces remain in high operational readiness. The message from the Armed Forces is clear: India will not tolerate terrorism, and any provocation will be met with a decisive and overwhelming response.
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