One year after India’s Operation Sindoor, following the Pahalgam terror attack, top terror leaders remain underground as intelligence agencies track movements across Pakistan
New Delhi: One year after India’s decisive military response under Operation Sindoor, the impact of the strike continues to reverberate across terror networks, with top आतंकवादी leaders Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar reportedly still in hiding.
The operation was launched following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives, triggering a strong retaliatory response from India.
Operation Sindoor: Major Terror Infrastructure Destroyed
On May 7, 2025, India carried out targeted strikes on terror bases belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Among the key targets was Muridke, located about 40 km from Lahore, which served as the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba, spread across nearly 200 acres and used for terrorist training.
Another critical strike hit Bahawalpur, a known stronghold of Jaish-e-Mohammed, including the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah complex, linked to Masood Azhar’s network.
India also targeted terror hideouts in Kotli and Muzaffarabad, significantly damaging operational infrastructure.
Reports indicated that Masood Azhar acknowledged the loss of multiple family members during the strikes.
Masood Azhar’s Movements Under Watch
Following the operation, Masood Azhar was reportedly moved from Bahawalpur to Gilgit-Baltistan, nearly 1,200 km away, in an apparent effort to ensure his safety.
He was said to have stayed in Skardu for around 20 days in mid-2025, shifting between mosques, madrassas and secure locations.
Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had claimed in an interview that Azhar might have fled to Afghanistan, though later reports suggested he remained within Pakistani territory.
Hafiz Saeed’s Status Raises Questions
Before Operation Sindoor, Hafiz Saeed was reportedly seen in Lahore, particularly in Johar Town, where his residence was allegedly converted into a sub-jail.
Despite Pakistan’s claim that he has been serving a 46-year sentence since 2019 for terror financing, reports suggest he has appeared in public multiple times, raising questions about enforcement.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also stated that Pakistan could consider handing over Saeed and Azhar to India under certain conditions, a remark that sparked reactions, including from Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed.
Frequent Relocations, ISI Protection Alleged
Intelligence inputs indicate that both leaders have been frequently moved between cities such as Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore, allegedly under the protection of Pakistan’s security establishment.
The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is believed to be shifting them between safe houses to avoid detection, even as international pressure mounts.
India Continues Surveillance, Security Agencies on Alert
Indian security agencies are reportedly closely monitoring the movements of both Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, tracking intelligence inputs and developments related to cross-border terrorism.
