The death of Hakim Mohammad Tahir Anwar, the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, has created a significant gap in the terror group’s leadership. Anwar played a crucial role in leading the armed cadres of JeM, and his demise is expected to severely impact the outfit’s ground operations. The loss comes at a challenging time for JeM, which has been struggling to regroup following setbacks like Operation Sindoor initiated by the Indian Armed Forces.
Anwar, who was actively involved in managing operations alongside another brother, Ibrahim Azhar, held a key position within the organization. The structure of JeM is described as family-centric, with Azhar and his siblings maintaining tight control over top positions. The recent deaths within Azhar’s family, including Anwar, have left the group grappling with both personal loss and operational challenges.
The void left by Anwar’s death poses a significant obstacle for JeM, as finding suitable replacements from outside the family circle is a complex task. Trust issues within the Azhar family further complicate the process of appointing new leaders. Intelligence assessments suggest that the outfit’s revival may be hindered by the time-consuming task of building trust and reshaping the leadership structure.
As JeM navigates this period of transition, efforts to maintain morale among cadres through propaganda and the establishment of ideological modules in India are underway. The group aims to foster homegrown modules within the country, mirroring a strategy similar to that of Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, heightened vigilance by Indian security forces has made infiltration challenging for these terror outfits.
Masood Azhar himself confirmed the news of Anwar’s passing in a circulated letter, expressing grief over his brother’s demise. The cause of death and funeral arrangements are currently under investigation. The message indicated that funeral prayers would be conducted at Jamia Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur.
