Plotter of IC814 hijack, Pulwama, Pathankot killed in Bahawalpur?

medium nocaption121024534The presence of senior Pakistan army officers at the funeral of one of those killed in India's surgical strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror camp at Bahawalpur sparked speculation about Abdul Rauf Azhar — the younger brother of Jaish chief Masood Azhar and mastermind of the IC814 hijack, Pathankot fidayeen strike and the Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel — being among those killed.Foreign secretary Vikram Misri, at the official govt briefing on Thursday, refused to comment on the speculation about Rauf's death, but sources in security agencies said the funeral attendance was seen as a possible giveaway.Rauf, around 48 years old, was the most senior Jaish figure residing in the Markaz Subhan Allah at Bahawalpur. Rauf is believed to be the de facto head of Jaish, managing all its operations, overseeing training of its top fidayeen and plotting terror attacks against India.Rauf’s crimesOn X, BJP said Rauf had been “eliminated” while recalling his role as the prime conspirator and mastermind behind the Kandahar hijack, executed by him to secure the release of his brother Masood, the Pathankot attack and the 2001 Parliament terror strike.Masood chose the targets but stayed away from the finer planning, leaving such details to his younger brother. Masood himself is believed to be in the protective custody of Pakistan authorities at an undisclosed location in either Islamabad or Rawalpindi. medium121024264Sources indicated that Masood was never an ‘operations’ man but the prime motivator for Jaish, who could turn ‘jihadi’ recruits into committed fidayeen with his fiery sermons. His recorded sermons still do the job, even as planning and execution of operations was left to Rauf.Rauf arranged consignments of weapons, including M4 rifles left behind by Nato forces in Afghanistan, through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-based smugglers for Markaz Subhan Allah.Rauf was designated by the home ministry as an “individual terrorist” in Oct 2020 under UAPA. As per the ban notification, he was involved in setting up terror training camps in Pakistan and organising terrorist attacks in India from Pakistan soil. He is also wanted for several other terror attacks, including abduction and killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl.100 terrorists killedGovernment on Thursday said at least 100 hardcore terrorists were killed in Indian strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), and emphasised that Operation Sindoor, launched to avenge the slaughter of tourists in Pahalgam, was ongoing.The number given by defence minister Rajnath Singh at an all-party meeting was the first count on the likely toll of India’s precision strikes on terror camps, which suffered considerable damage. “It is difficult to give an exact estimate, as the operation is ongoing, and we are collating details,” Singh told the meeting while asserting that “India will give a befitting reply if Pakistan attacks”. medium121024417While Singh refrained from disclosing details of operations, saying they were still under way, he assured representatives of parties that India had enough stocks of ammunition.“We have enough ammunition stock. Our defence PSUs have stepped up production and have the capacity to further increase the output. Moreover, we also have private sector contributing in a big way,” a source quoted Rajnath Singh as saying at the meeting that was attended by home minister Amit Shah, BJP chief and health minister JP Nadda, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, foreign minister S Jaishankar, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and others.All parties uniteSpeaking to reporters after the meeting, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said that political parties pledged unity in the fight against terrorism. “Leaders expressed their views responsibly, recognising the major challenge the country faces,” he added.Sources said Singh told the meeting India was not seeking an escalation but would not flinch if there was provocation from Pakistan. Rijiju said that parties were unanimous in congratulating the armed forces on the success of Operation Sindoor. They expressed concern for safety in the border areas, but also promised support to the government's future actions. “In this moment of crisis, we are with the government,” Kharge told reporters, a view echoed by Rahul and other opposition leaders. medium nocaption121029971“The defence minister said this is a sensitive time, and, in the interest of the country, detailed questions should not be asked, as they pertain to defence secrets,” Kharge said. However, he expressed disappointment over PM Narendra Modi’s absence from the meeting. Sources said some opposition netas referenced Pakistan’s claim of downing Indian fighter jets and questioned whether the government needed to counter such propaganda.Rahul and CPM’s John Brittas suggested convening a special session of Parliament to signal united national resolve. “Certain things should not be discussed. Everyone simply gave their support,” Rahul told reporters.JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha expressed satisfaction over the fact that terror camps linked to all major attacks in India, beginning in 2001, had been destroyed. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi complimented the armed forces and the government for conducting Operation Sindoor. “I also said we should run an international campaign against The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, and the UN Security Council should designate it as a terror organisation. We need to ask the United States to designate it as a foreign terrorist organisation,” he said. Sources said Owaisi raised concerns about online abuse targeting Himanshi Narwal, wife of naval officer Vinay Narwal, one of the 26 people killed in Pahalgam. Some opposition leaders urged measures to ensure communal harmony.