Masood Azhar Spotted in Gilgit-Baltistan After Leaving Bahawalpur
You know Masood Azhar, right? The guy India’s been trying to catch forever—founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed, mastermind behind some of the bloodiest attacks in recent memory. Well, guess what? After giving our forces the slip during Operation Sindhu, he’s popped up again. And this time, he’s holed up in Gilgit-Baltistan, way up in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Far cry from his old stomping grounds in Bahawalpur. Makes you wonder—how does this guy keep slipping through the cracks?
1. Who is Masood Azhar?
Let me break it down for you. This isn’t just some random extremist. Azhar’s the brains behind the 2001 Parliament attack and that horrific 2019 Pulwama bombing where we lost 40 of our soldiers. The UN’s got him on their global terrorist list, but here’s the kicker—he’s still operating freely from Pakistan. And while Islamabad keeps denying it, everyone knows they’re playing dumb.
2. Operation Sindhu: What Really Happened
So late last year, India went all in with Operation Sindhu—airstrikes, covert ops, the whole nine yards. We took out a bunch of JeM hideouts, but Azhar? Gone like smoke. Typical, right? Shows how hard it is to nail these guys when they’ve got powerful friends looking out for them.
3. The Big Reveal: Azhar’s New Hideout
3.1. Why Gilgit-Baltistan?
Think about it—remote mountains, barely any government presence, and plenty of militant buddies to help him lay low. Way smarter than sticking around Bahawalpur where everyone’s watching. It’s like switching from a busy city street to a cave in the Himalayas.
3.2. How We Know He’s There
Satellite pics, intercepted calls, good old-fashioned human intel—the usual mix. RAW’s confirmed it, and let’s just say their track record’s pretty solid. “He’s trying to stay off the radar,” one source told me. No kidding.
3.3. Why This Should Worry Us
Here’s the scary part—Gilgit’s right on our doorstep. With Azhar setting up shop there, you can bet he’s cooking up something nasty. And Pakistan? They’re breaking every UN rule in the book by sheltering him there.
4. Why the Move?
Three big reasons:
- Operation Sindhu made Bahawalpur too hot
- The guy’s paranoid about being spotted (can’t imagine why)
- Geography is his friend—those mountains are a nightmare for surveillance
5. What Now?
5.1. Diplomatic Games
India’s gonna push hard at the UN, but let’s be real—China’s probably going to block anything serious. They’ve been Pakistan’s get-out-of-jail-free card for years.
5.2. Military Options
We might see:
- More drones buzzing over PoK
- Maybe another Balakot-style strike—though catching Azhar’s proved tougher than anyone expected
6. What People Are Saying
Social media’s blowing up with #MasoodAzhar tags. Everyone’s pissed, obviously. Some experts are warning this could mean new attacks, while others are calling out Pakistan’s whole “some terrorists are okay” policy.
Bottom Line
Azhar moving to Gilgit-Baltistan shows two things—he’s adaptable, and Pakistan doesn’t give a damn. Now India’s stuck between talking tough at the UN or taking matters into its own hands. Either way, something’s gotta give.
FAQs
Q: Is Pakistan admitting Azhar’s there?
A: Come on—when do they ever admit anything?
Q: Why do terrorists love Gilgit-Baltistan?
A: No cops, no rules, and plenty of hiding spots. Terrorist AirBnB, basically.
Q: How sure are we about this intel?
A: Multiple agencies confirm it, but Pakistan’s calling it “fake news.” Surprise, surprise.
Q: Has India ever successfully taken out terrorists abroad?
A: We’ve tried—Balakot, Uri strikes—but big fish like Azhar keep slipping away.
Source: Navbharat Times – Default
