JeM's Yusuf Azhar, wanted terrorist in Kandahar hijacking case killed in Operation Sindoor

New Delhi: Five most wanted terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, including Mazood Azhar's brother-in-law Mohd Yusuf Azhar wanted in the IC-814 hijacking case, were killed in Indian strikes in Pakistan on May 7, officials claimed here on Saturday.

The funerals of these five terrorists -- Yusuf Azhar, Mohd Khadian Khas, Hafiz Mohd Jameel, Khalid and Mohd Hassan Khan -- were attended by senior Pakistan Army officers and police personnel, proving further evidence for Pakistan's involvement with terrorism, they said.

Yusuf Azhar and Jameel who were killed in the Indian strikes in Bahawalpur, were Masood Azhar's brothers-in-law and involved in the activities of JeM, officials claimed.

They said Yusuf Azhar, the mastermind in the IC-814 hijacking case, handled weapons training for JeM and was involved in a number of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. He was listed at number 21 in the most wanted list of terrorists notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Jameel was the eldest brother-in-law of Masood Azhar and he was in charge of Markaz Subhan Allah complex, the headquarters of JeM. He was actively involved in radical indoctrination of youth and fundraising for the terror outfit, officials claimed.

The officials also said Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Mudassar Khadian Khas, who was in-charge of Markaz Taiba in Muridke, was also killed in the strike. They said Khas received a guard of honour at his funeral by Pakistani officials and wreaths were placed on behalf of Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and Punjab (Pakistan) Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Khas' funeral prayers were held in a government school and was led by Hafiz Abdul Rauf of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the parent body of LeT, a designated global terrorist. Officials said a serving Lt General of Pakistan Army and Inspector General of Punjab Police also attended his funeral, the official said.

LeT's Khalid alias Abu Akasa, who was involved in multiple terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir and engaged in weapons smuggling from Afghanistan, was also killed in the attack, the officials said adding his funeral held in Faisalabad were attended by senior Pakistan Army officials and the Deputy Commissioner.

JeM's Mohd Hassan Khan, son of Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri who was operational commander of Jem in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, was also killed in the attack. Officials said Khan played a key role in coordinating terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.