In the wake of India’s surgical strikes during Operation Sindoor, a shocking truth came to light. Pakistan had earlier rejected any role in the Pahalgam terror attack, but new evidence opposed this assertion. Pakistan’s senior army officials, police, and civilian authorities were seen performing the last rites of terrorists who were eliminated in the operation.
These ceremonies were held in Muridke, which is a region famous for having proscribed groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD). This finding was the direct opposite of Pakistan’s denial, weakening its claim of not having any relationship with terror groups. Relations along the India-Pakistan border have deteriorated further, with Islamabad vowing revenge.
Rapid Denial, Followed by an Attack
On 22 April, militants ambushed Pahalgam and killed 26. Pakistan hastily disclaimed involvement, but India, as well as the international community, remained unimpressed. The next day, India’s armed forces undertook Operation Sindoor, a rapid 25-minute assault against nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The camps, connected to organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen, had been kept under close monitoring by India due to their activities of planning attacks in Indian territory.
More than 70 Terrorists Slain, Islamabad Reacts
The attacks killed more than 70 terrorists, including top commanders such as Qari Abdul Malik, Khalid, and Mudassir. They were members of banned outfits. India’s officials, such as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sophia Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, confirmed the success of the operation.
Even though the strikes were precise and effective, Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif criticized them as an “act of war” and promised to take revenge for the “blood of martyrs.”
Funeral Revelations Shatter Islamabad’s Denial
A startling revelation cropped up at a Muridke cemetery, where the slain terrorists were given funeral prayers. Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a top LeT terrorist, conducted the ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Pakistani soldiers, police officers, and civilian officials. Soldiers carried coffins covered with Pakistani flags, indicating the active role of the state.
Serving Pakistani Army officers are openly attending the funerals of terrorists eliminated in Operation Sindoor- A stark reminder that the Pakistani Army and terrorism always walk hand in hand ! pic.twitter.com/jkoFaCllzh
— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) May 7, 2025
The viral video of the event, posted by Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, had the caption: “Plotting. Assisting. Killing. Inciting. Shielding. Training. Arming. Nurturing. That’s what P-A-K-I-S-T-A-N really stands for.”
Political Wing Confirms State Involvement
Tabish Qayyum, a representative of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, freely acknowledged the involvement of the state when he called the dead terrorists “martyrs” and insisted that it was the responsibility of the state to pay tribute to them.
This admission further revealed the complicity of the Pakistani government with terrorist organizations, dispersing the long-held denial of any engagement on its part.
Pakistan’s Retaliation and Backlash
As a response, Pakistan responded with heavy artillery firing across the Line of Control (LoC), killing 15 civilians, four of whom were children, and one soldier, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar. The shelling hit Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, and Kupwara villages, and civilians took shelter in underground bunkers. India responded with speed, attacking enemy positions which had been indulging in shelling.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif kept the fire burning by acknowledging that Pakistan had financed and armed terrorist organizations for decades, calling it “dirty work” that had been undertaken to benefit world powers. This confirmation strengthened India’s rationale for launching precision attacks aimed at eliminating such terror camps.
Deeper Pattern of Collusion
India has consistently accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism, citing events like 9/11, the 26/11 Mumbai attack, and the Abbottabad operation. Operation Sindoor again revealed these deep roots, with the Pakistani military at terrorist funerals. These were revelations that gave Islamabad little cover to deny it.
Operation Sindoor is a turning point in this conflict. The public exhibition of state-sponsored terrorist funerals is a serious question for the international community. The evidence now clearly points to Pakistan’s military and civilian institutions facilitating terrorism. The Muridke images are more than just commemoration; they show state sanction of terrorism.
While Islamabad threatens more retaliation and New Delhi prepares for more action, the international community must confront the unpleasant reality: Pakistan is no longer hiding its role in terrorism, and its actions must now be addressed.
