• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Maulana Masood Azhar, the notorious leader of the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), has been responsible for some of the deadliest attacks in India, including the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. On May 7, 2025, Azhar confirmed the loss of 10 family members and four associates in India's targeted military strikes under 'Operation Sindoor.' According to BBC Urdu, Azhar admitted that the strikes, which were launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, had claimed the lives of those close to him. The strikes targeted nine terror sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). 

Masood Azhar's Early Life

Born in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, in 1968, Azhar has left a trail of violence and terror not only in South Asia but also across continents. The 1999 IC-814 hijacking, which forced India to release him, changed the trajectory of Islamist militancy in the region forever.

Masood Azhar was born into a religiously devout family in Bahawalpur. His father, a school headmaster and a Deobandi cleric, ensured religious education formed the core of his upbringing. Azhar left formal schooling after eighth grade and later graduated from Jamia Uloom Islamic seminary in 1989. He quickly joined Harkat-ul-Ansar (HuA), a jihadist group operating in Kashmir and Afghanistan.

Initially involved in propaganda and motivation, he edited militant publications and travelled internationally to gather support and funds for jihadist causes. He reportedly visited countries like the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Mongolia to spread his ideology and raise resources.

Arrest In India And IC-814 Hijacking

In early 1994, Masood Azhar entered India under a false identity to mediate between two feuding militant factions. He was arrested in Khanabal, Jammu and Kashmir, and imprisoned in multiple jails, including Tihar and Kot Balwal. While in jail, he was interrogated by the FBI in connection with the 1995 kidnapping of six foreign tourists in Kashmir by a group demanding his release. Only one hostage escaped; the rest were never found.

In December 1999, Indian Airlines Flight IC814 was hijacked and taken to Taliban-controlled Kandahar. The hijackers, led by Azhar’s brother Ibrahim Athar, demanded Azhar's release. India complied, and Azhar was handed over in exchange for the hostages. The move was heavily criticised as a diplomatic failure. After his release, Azhar publicly vowed to continue jihad against India. Soon after, the US designated his original group, Harkat-ul-Ansar, a terrorist organisation, prompting it to rebrand as Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

ALSO READ:India's Strike On Pakistan: Why Operation Sindoor Stands Out Among Other Military Operations?

Formation Of Jaish-e-Mohammed

Soon after his release, Azhar founded Jaish-e-Mohammed, reportedly with support from Pakistan’s ISI, the Taliban, and even Osama bin Laden. JeM emerged as a powerful terrorist organisation, with a declared mission to "liberate Kashmir" and wage war against India. The organisation operates like a family-run enterprise, with Azhar’s brothers holding key positions.

Continued Terror Activities

JeM was responsible for numerous deadly attacks, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack that nearly pushed India and Pakistan to war. Despite being briefly detained in Pakistan after the attack, Azhar was never charged or imprisoned.

Masood Azhar's name has been linked to several high-profile terrorist attacks in India over the years. While he was not directly implicated in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, his involvement in terrorism was well-known, and it was reported that he was briefly detained by Pakistan during the investigation, though the country later denied any knowledge of his whereabouts. 

In 2016, the Pathankot attack, which targeted an Indian airbase, saw Indian agencies accusing Azhar and his brother of masterminding the assault. The attack was a significant blow to Indian security forces, further escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. In 2019, Azhar's Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group carried out the deadly Pulwama attack, where a suicide bomber killed 44 CRPF personnel. Reports suggested that Azhar, who was reportedly under protective custody in a Pakistani Army hospital at the time, approved the attack.

ALSO READ: Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar's 10 Family Members Killed In Indian Strikes In Pakistan's Bahawalpur