On 7th May, Indian security forces carried out a high-value counter-terror operation called 'Operation Sindoor', neutralizing five senior Pakistani terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. These operatives were key planners and executors of terror activities in Jammu & Kashmir and held significant positions within their respective terror outfits. The details that emerged post-operation not only highlighted their deep involvement in radical indoctrination, weapons training, and cross-border attacks but also exposed the open support extended to them by the Pakistani establishment. State honours at their funerals, the presence of senior military and police officials, and their connections to globally designated terrorists paint a grim picture of Pakistan’s continuing patronage of terrorism.

• Mudassar Khadian Khas, also known as Mudassar and Abu Jundal, was a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander. He served as the in-charge of Markaz Taiba in Muridke, the ideological and logistical base of the outfit. His stature was evident at his funeral, which received state patronage. The Pakistan Army provided a guard of honour, and wreaths were laid on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff and the Punjab Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz. The funeral prayer was conducted in a government school, led by Hafiz Abdul Rauf of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a globally designated terrorist. High-ranking officials, including a serving Lieutenant General of the Pakistan Army and the Inspector General of Punjab Police, were present, reflecting the establishment’s tacit support.
• Hafiz Muhammed Jameel, affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed, was the eldest brother-in-law of Maulana Masood Azhar, the group’s founder. He was in charge of Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur and played a crucial role in the radicalization of youth and fundraising operations for JeM. His activities extended deep into the ideological propagation and expansion of JeM’s influence in the region.
• Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, also known by aliases Ustad Ji, Mohd Salim, and Ghosi Sahab, was a veteran operative of Jaish-e-Mohammed. His past involvement in various terror operations made him one of the most wanted terrorists by Indian intelligence agencies.
• Khalid, also known as Abu Akasha, was a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba operative responsible for numerous attacks in Jammu & Kashmir. He was actively involved in weapons smuggling from Afghanistan into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. His funeral was held in Faisalabad, attended by senior Pakistani Army officials and the Deputy Commissioner of the city, highlighting once again the state’s complicity in harboring and honoring terrorists.
• Mohammad Hassan Khan, a key figure in Jaish-e-Mohammed, was the son of Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, the operational commander of JeM in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He played a significant role in coordinating attacks in Jammu & Kashmir and was also involved in weapons training for JeM recruits. He was closely related to Maulana Masood Azhar as his brother-in-law and was wanted for his involvement in the infamous IC-814 hijacking case.

This major success for Indian forces not only marks the elimination of top terrorist figures but also exposes the depth of state support and facilitation these individuals received in Pakistan. Their funerals, attended and honoured by top military and political officials, underline the disturbing nexus between the Pakistani establishment and internationally designated terror groups.