Report Claims Masood Azhar Changed Safe Houses - Could Jaish-e-Mohammed be Weakening Following Operation Sindoor?
In a significant development, Masood Azhar, the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), has been spotted in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir region of Gilgit-Baltistan[1]. This revelation comes after the Indian Armed Forces' operations Sindoor and Mahadev, which targeted JeM infrastructure and operatives in Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir.
Following these operations, Masood Azhar, who is one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world and is responsible for several attacks in India, has been reported to be evading capture[1]. Intelligence agencies believe he is currently in a low-profile, remote region of Gilgit-Baltistan to avoid detection[1].
Pakistan's former Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, had earlier claimed that Azhar might be in Afghanistan, but fresh Indian intel confirms his presence in Gilgit-Baltistan[1][4].
During Operation Sindoor (7th May 2025), the Indian military severely damaged key terror infrastructure, including the Rahim Yar Khan airbase near Bahawalpur, a vital hub for JeM operations[5]. The operation resulted in the death of over 100 terrorists, including JeM chief Masood Azhar[6]. However, there is no credible confirmation that Azhar himself was harmed or captured[2].
Despite these operations, Azhar remains at large and operational[1]. Pakistan has maintained ambiguous stances on his capture or extradition, with some officials stating he is not currently on Pakistani soil, while continuing to deny India’s demands for his custody[1][4].
In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, the morale of the JeM cadre is extremely low[7]. Reports suggest that the Pakistan establishment is helping terror groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and JeM rebuild their facilities[8].
However, Masood Azhar is not planning to rebuild JeM's headquarters at the Bahawalpur location[3]. It is worth noting that Masood Azhar was not present at the JeM headquarters during the attacks and was moved out of his old residence immediately after[3].
This ongoing situation underscores the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between nations to combat terrorism and ensure peace and security in the region.
References: 1. India Today 2. The Economic Times 3. The Hindu 4. NDTV 5. The Indian Express 6. The Times of India 7. Hindustan Times 8. IANS
- The ongoing presence of Masood Azhar in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, despite the Indian Armed Forces' operations, highlights the complexities of war-and-conflicts and politics in the region.
- The news of Masood Azhar's potential hiding place in a remote region of Gilgit-Baltistan, amidst the general-news of his evasion and the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions, puts crime-and-justice at the forefront, with Azhar's capture being of international importance.
