Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar has reportedly admitted that 10 of his family members were killed in India’s precision airstrikes under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Details of the Strike
- The Indian Armed Forces launched coordinated missile and drone strikes on nine terror sites, including Bahawalpur, where Azhar’s family members were reportedly present.
- Among those killed were Azhar’s elder sister, her husband, a nephew and his wife, a niece, and five children from his extended family.
- The attack also claimed the lives of four close associates, including one of Azhar’s longtime aides and his mother.
JeM’s Headquarters Targeted
- The strikes hit Markaz Subhan Allah, JeM’s operational headquarters in Bahawalpur, which has been used for terror training and radicalization since 2015.
- The facility housed over 600 madrassa students, along with a mosque, gymnasium, and swimming pool, serving as a key recruitment center for JeM operatives.
Azhar’s Response & Threats
- In an Urdu statement, Azhar expressed grief but vowed retaliation, stating, “The fallen minaret of Subhanullah mosque will finally fall on the Indian people in such a manner that their future generations won’t be able to forget”.
- He accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of targeting innocent civilians, though India maintains that the strikes were focused solely on terror infrastructure.
India’s Justification for Operation Sindoor
- The Indian government stated that the strikes were “measured, non-escalatory, and proportionate”, aimed at breaking the backbone of terrorism.
- Intelligence reports indicated that JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives were planning further cross-border attacks, prompting India’s preemptive action.
Global Reactions & Security Measures
- The United Nations and key global allies have been briefed on India’s counter-terrorism stance.
- Security agencies remain on high alert, with border surveillance intensified to prevent retaliatory strikes.
India’s Operation Sindoor marks a decisive step in countering terrorism, reinforcing its commitment to national security while maintaining strategic restraint.
