Jaish Memorial for Masood Azhar’s Brother Sparks Outrage

In a move that highlights the ongoing defiance of designated terror groups, the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) is reportedly planning a memorial service for Yusuf Azhar, the brother of its founder, Masood Azhar. Sources indicate that the event, slated to take place in Peshawar, Pakistan, is not merely a commemoration but is also intended as a major recruitment drive for the banned organization. This development comes months after Yusuf Azhar’s death in India’s counter-terrorism campaign, “Operation Sindoor.”

Operation Sindoor: A Strategic Blow to Terror Infrastructure

Operation Sindoor was a targeted and precise military response by India to the terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the death of 26 tourists. The operation, launched on May 7, involved missile strikes on nine terror camps and facilities across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Among the key targets was the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, the JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

The strikes proved to be a significant blow to the JeM leadership. A statement attributed to Masood Azhar himself, and later confirmed in a viral video by a senior JeM commander, admitted that ten of his family members were killed in the Bahawalpur strike. The casualties included his elder sister, her husband, a nephew, a niece, and five children. Yusuf Azhar, who was also a key figure within the organization, was among those who perished.

The Memorial and Recruitment Drive

According to intelligence sources, the memorial service for Yusuf Azhar is scheduled for September 25. The event will be held at the Marakaz Shaheed Maksudabad in Peshawar and is expected to be attended by senior JeM commanders. To evade international scrutiny and sanctions, the terror group is reportedly using a new alias, “Al-Murabitun,” which translates to “defenders of the land of Islam.”

The decision to hold a public memorial and recruitment drive in Peshawar underscores the persistent support and safe haven that such groups continue to enjoy within Pakistan. It is seen as an attempt by the Jaish to not only honor its fallen but also to project strength and resilience in the face of India’s retaliatory strikes. The gathering, held under a new name, is a tactic to circumvent the global financial and diplomatic restrictions placed on the group.

This event is part of a larger strategy by terror organizations like JeM and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) to rebuild their networks and relocate their bases deeper into Pakistan, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The move is a direct response to the effectiveness of Operation Sindoor, which demonstrated India’s capability for deep-strike operations against terror infrastructure.

While India has consistently expressed its commitment to a non-escalatory posture and has aimed to minimize civilian casualties, the need for a firm and decisive response to cross-border terrorism has become increasingly evident. The brazen public memorial for a designated terrorist’s brother highlights the challenge posed by state-sponsored terrorism and the urgent need for global cooperation to dismantle these networks permanently.