In a daring overnight operation, the Indian armed forces launched strikes against terrorist strongholds in Pakistan and PoK. Pakistan's army media wing, DG ISPR, confirmed Indian strikes at nine locations, including Kotli, Muridke, and Bahawalpur, dubbing it 'Operation Sindoor'. Main targets were the jihadist bases of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba, held responsible for major attacks on India over the past three decades.
Why Bahawalpur?
Bahawalpur, Pakistan's 12th largest city, serves as the nerve center for Jaish-e-Mohammad. Situated 400 km away from Lahore, JeM's headquarters are nestled within the expansive 18-acre 'Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah,' also known as the Usman-o-Ali Campus. This complex is pivotal in spearheading JeM's recruitment, funding, and training activities. The strategically significant site was an intended target of the Indian airstrikes. Originating from Bahawalpur, JeM's founder, Maulana Masood Azhar, inhabits a fortified enclave.
Jaish-e-Mohammad's Official History
Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) was officially banned in 2002, but the action was largely superficial as the group continued its activities unobstructed. Located near Pakistan's army cantonment and a rumored nuclear facility, the JeM camp remains under ISI protection, indicating the level of support and security offered to the militant group.
The Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah
This mosque, established as a madrassa, was funded by JeM's facade entity, Al-Rahmat Trust. Originally a modest structure, it transformed into a sprawling training complex by 2012, featuring a large mosque, madrassa for over 600 students, a swimming pool, stables for horses, and a gymnasium, as revealed by satellite images.
Jaish-e-Mohammad's Origins
On December 24, 1999, five terrorists from Harkat-ul-Mujahideen hijacked an Indian Airlines flight with 190 passengers. The aircraft rerouted from Kathmandu to Delhi was diverted through Amritsar, Lahore, and Dubai to Kandahar, Afghanistan (under Taliban control). India was forced to release three terrorists: Masood Azhar, Omar Sheikh, and Mushtaq Zargar.
Who is Masood Azhar?
Born in 1968, Masood Azhar was apprehended in India in 1994. Prior to his arrest, he was associated with the Afghan-based terrorist group, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), as a cleric. Released under duress, Azhar established JeM, which advocates a Deobandi school of thought, rooted in radical Islamic ideology. Aligned with other terrorist entities, JeM orchestrated significant attacks in India, including assaults on the Jammu-Kashmir assembly and the Indian Parliament.
Jaish-e-Mohammad's Timeline of Terror:
April 2000:
First suicide attack in Srinagar's Badami Bagh, killing four soldiers
October 2001:
Attack on Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, over 30 casualties
December 2001:
Assault on Parliament, resulting in 14 fatalities
January 2016:
Pathankot Airbase attack, claiming 3 soldiers' lives
September 2016:
Uri attack, with 19 Indian soldiers martyred
February 2019:
Pulwama bombing, leading to the death of 40 CRPF personnel
2024-25:
Pahalgam attacks involving JeM affiliates
JeM Leadership
Masood Azhar:
Founder, labeled a global terrorist by the UN in 2019
Abdul Rauf Azhar:
Masood Azhar's brother, significant influence within the organization
Shah Nawaz Khan (Sajid Jihadi) and Maulana Mufti Mohammad:
Other leading figures, training over 300 militants.
