The saga of Masood Azhar stands as one of the most consequential chapters in the history of India’s struggle against terrorism. His journey-from his arrest in Kashmir valley, to his activities behind bars, to the infamous Kandahar hijacking and his coercive subsequent release and final meteoric rise as the leader of
Jaish-e-Mohammed offers critical insights into the challenges faced by the Indian state, its security apparatus, and J&K judiciary.
The case also highlights the complexities of balancing humanitarian concerns with national security imperatives and the importance of precise intelligence and strategic decision-making. Early Life and Radicalisation Masood Azhar was born in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, Punjab and received his early education at Jamia Islamia Binori Town in Karachi, a seminary known for its radical leanings. By the early 1990s, Azhar had become a prominent figure in Harkat-ulMujahideen (HuM), an organisation with deep links to global jihadist networks. His early indoctrination and training in Afghanistan laid the foundation for his later activities as a terrorist leader.
Arrest and Imprisonment in India In January 1994, Masood Azhar entered India under a false identity, using forged travel documents. Indian security forces, acting on intelligence inputs, apprehended him on the J&K National Highway while travelling in an auto rickshaw at Khanabal (a village near Anantnag District Headquarters). His arrest was a significant achievement for Indian intelligence and law enforcement agencies at the time. Azhar was charged with entering the country illegally and with involvement in terrorist activities including waging war against the state; offences under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.
During his incarceration in high security jail of Kot Bhalwal near Jammu city, Azhar’s influence considerably grew. Drawing on his background as an ideologue and recruiter of terrorists, he reportedly used his time in jail to radicalize fellow inmates, jail staff and build a network of loyal followers which included high ranking police officers even upto the rank of an Inspector General. His followers were, at sometimes, making beelines to get Talismans from him. This phenomenon, not uncommon in cases involving ideologically motivated prisoners, underscores the challenges faced by prison authorities in containing the spread of extremist ideologies within correctional facilities. Reports from that period indicate that Azhar’s charisma and oratory skills enabled him to inspire and recruit new cadres even while in custody as an undertrial prisoner in high security jail in Kot Bhalwal, Jammu during the period from 1994 to 1999.
Escalating Demands and the Kandahar Hijacking The period following Azhar’s arrest saw a series of attempts by his associates to secure his release. Notably, there were several kidnappings of foreign tourists in Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi between 1994 and 1995, with at least one victim reportedly killed. Each of these incidents was marked by the demand for Azhar’s freedom, demonstrating the lengths to which his supporters were willing to go. The most dramatic of these efforts was the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 on December 24, 1999. The aircraft, en route from Kathmandu to Delhi, was commandeered and eventually diverted to Kandahar, Afghanistan, then under Taliban control.
The hijackers’ were five in number and their principal demand was the release of Masood Azhar, along with two other terrorists: Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh (British Pakistani) and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar (Kashmiri). After protracted negotiations and under immense pressure to save the lives of the hostages, the Indian government agreed to the hijackers’ demands. The decision to release Azhar was executed at the highest levels, with then Foreign Minister Shri Jaswant Singh personally escorting the terrorists to Kandahar. This episode remains one of the most controversial decisions in India’s counter-terrorism history, raising enduring questions about the balance between immediate humanitarian concerns and long-term security risks. Unethical judicial conduct of some concerned judges at the highest hierarchy in J&K was also a cause of his release and consequential lease of life. The prosecution agencies had gathered empirical evidence of impeccable, cogent and convincing
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