In a major blow to terror networks, ten family members of UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar, including his sister and brother-in-law, were reportedly killed in India’s airstrikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7. The precision strikes targeted Bahawalpur, known to be a stronghold of Azhar’s Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), as part of “Operation Sindoor”.
Posts circulating on social media claim that Masood Azhar released a statement confirming the deaths of his relatives. However, the authenticity of the statement remains unverified by The Daily Guardian or independent authorities.
The Ministry of Defence officially confirmed that nine terror-linked sites were destroyed in the operation. Importantly, Indian forces refrained from targeting Pakistani military facilities to ensure the operation remained focused solely on dismantling terrorist infrastructure and avoiding further escalation.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, along with Col. Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, addressed the media in a press briefing. Misri emphasized, “The actions were measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible.” He further added, “Despite a fortnight having passed since the attack, there has been no demonstrable step from Pakistan to take action against the terrorist infrastructure on its territory or territory under its control. Instead all it has indulged in is denial and allegations.”
Highlighting the urgency behind the operation, Misri stated, “Our intelligence monitoring of Pakistan-based terror modules indicated that further attacks against India were impending. There was thus a compulsion both to deter and to preempt.”
“Operation Sindoor” was carried out in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. The joint effort by the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy lasted 25 minutes and delivered a strong message against cross-border terrorism.
