Masood Azhar's Brother Mohammad Tahir Anwar Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances in Pakistan: Report
Mohammad Tahir Anwar, brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, has died in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. While the cause of death remains unconfirmed, his passing follows significant leadership losses due to recent counter-terrorism strikes. Anwar was a long-time associate of the group, which is linked to multiple major attacks in India.
Mumbai, March 31: Mohammad Tahir Anwar, a senior figure within the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the brother of the outfit’s chief, Masood Azhar, has died in Pakistan. The group’s official communication channels confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating that funeral proceedings were scheduled to take place at Jamia Masjid Usman Wali in Bahawalpur late Monday night.
While the death has been verified by the organisation, there has been no official disclosure regarding the specific cause of death. The lack of information concerning any prior illness or specific incident has led to widespread speculation among regional security analysts, as Tahir Anwar had been a key operative in the group’s organisational structure for several years. Who Is Mohamad Safa? The UN Diplomat Claiming a Planned Nuclear Attack on Iran.
Mohammad Tahir Anwar Background and Family Ties
Tahir Anwar was closely integrated into the top tier of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations and several countries. The outfit has been responsible for numerous high-profile attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot airbase strike, and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing which resulted in the deaths of 40 security personnel.
The death follows a period of significant losses for the Azhar family. In September 2025, senior commanders of the group indirectly acknowledged that several of Masood Azhar’s close relatives had been killed during Indian military operations. These strikes were part of a broader counter-terrorism response following a major security incident in Pahalgam earlier that year.
Mohammad Tahir Anwar Death and Impact of Recent Counter-Terrorism Strikes
Indian security forces have previously targeted the group’s primary infrastructure in Bahawalpur under "Operation Sindoor." These precision strikes significantly damaged the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah facility, which served as a central hub for the organisation. Reports from late 2025 indicated that approximately 10 of Masood Azhar’s relatives, including his sister and several nephews, were killed during those operations.
The death of Tahir Anwar marks the loss of another immediate family member involved in the group’s leadership. Intelligence agencies in the region are currently monitoring the situation in Bahawalpur to determine if the death was due to natural causes or related to injuries sustained in previous engagements.
Bahawalpur remains the primary headquarters for Jaish-e-Mohammed, despite international pressure on Pakistan to dismantle the group's infrastructure. The funeral at Jamia Masjid Usman Wali was reportedly conducted under tight security, reflecting the high-profile nature of the deceased within the local militant ecosystem. Israel Passes Law Mandating Death Penalty for Palestinians Convicted of Terrorist Attacks.
As of Tuesday morning, Pakistani authorities have not released a statement regarding the event. Security experts suggest that the depletion of Masood Azhar’s immediate inner circle could impact the group's operational continuity, although the outfit maintains a deep-rooted network of commanders across the region.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 31, 2026 08:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).