Who is Abdul Rauf Azhar? The mastermind behind the IC-814 hijacking and Daniel Pearl’s murder was killed in “Operation sindoor”
Who is 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 militaryts, leading to the release of several terrorists, including Omar Saeed Sheikh, who later kidnapped and murdered Daniel Pearl Pearl) in 2002. Rauf Azhar is also associated with the Pathankot attack in 2016 and the 2001 Indian parliamentary attack, both of which are attributed to Jem.
Rauf Azhar was formally designated as a terrorist by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2010 for his role in recruiting agents and planning attacks on India and Afghanistan. After his brother Masood Azhar was underground, Rauf Azhar occupied JEM in 2007 and became the core figure in the organization’s business.
Azhar’s role in IC-814 hijacking led to the release of Omar Saeed Sheikh, who later kidnapped and killed Daniel Pearl.
Please read also: IC-814 Hijacking Planner Abdul Rauf Azhar was killed in Operation Sindoor
Action Sindor: Revenge strike
The air strikes on May 7 are part of Operation Sindoor, a well-coordinated operation targeting 9 terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and POK. The strikes were directly related to the Pahalgam attack, which saw 26 deaths, including Nepali nationals. The operation focused on precision and minimization of escalation, destroying Jem strongholds, including its headquarters in Bahawalpur, where Abdul Rauf Azhar was reportedly. The statement from the Indian military confirmed that “the action is centralized, measured and non-propaganda”, stressing that no Pakistani military targets were attacked.
Rauf Azhar’s connection to the murder of Daniel Pearl
The air strikes on Bahawalpur are also symbolic, especially for Daniel Pearl, the family of American journalist Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered by agents Jem. In an emotional statement, Pearl’s colleague Asra Nomani recalled his visit to Bahawalpur in 2001 to investigate terrorist activities. She reflects on Pearl’s journey to the City Reporting Radical Office, which caused his kidnapping and decapitation to be tragic. The link between Azhar’s death and the Pearl murder brings a sense of closure to many who have long sought the brutal murder of the judiciary by journalists.
Global response to strikes
In India and around the world, Abdul Rauf Azhar’s death has experienced different reactions. American activist Amy Mek, founder of the Rair Foundation, praised the strike, calling them “justice in the brutal murder of American Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl.” She noted that India’s actions have touched the heart of the terror infrastructure and sent a clear message that the world will not tolerate protections of radicals who cause atrocities. “India will not stand it while radicals massacre non-Muslims,” she added.
The Indian air strikes are designed to eliminate terrorist facilities involving the planning of Indian soil attacks. These include Markaz Subhan Allah, located at the 15-acre factory near Bahawalpur, which serves as the operating base for Jem. These strikes not only attacked the headquarters, but also killed several senior members of the terrorist group, including Rauf Azhar and the family of Masood Azhar. Reports show that 10 relatives, including his sister and brother-in-law, were also killed.
Operation Sindor, while its tactical response to the Pahalgam attack, many were also interpreted by many as an important moment in combating terrorism in the region. Among the victims of the Jem attack, including Daniel Pearl, some believe that the successful strike against Azhar’s hiding place was considered a long-awaited justice. The operation raises important questions about the role of Pakistani terrorist organizations in continuing to possess terrorist organizations and the role of global powers in responding to the threats posed by such organizations.
