India's 'Operation Sindoor' Targets Militant Sites in Pakistan, Killing 13 Including Relatives of JeM Chief Masood Azhar

India conducted precision missile strikes on Wednesday, targeting alleged militant group headquarters in Pakistan, as part of 'Operation Sindoor.' The strikes hit nine sites, including those linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), resulting in 13 deaths, including 10 relatives of JeM chief Masood Azhar. The operation was a response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan condemned the strikes as an 'act of war,' while India emphasized they were non-escalatory. The incident has heightened regional tensions, with fears of further escalation.

Operation Sindoor: A Coordinated Strike

According to Indian defense officials, the strikes were a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Indian authorities blamed Pakistan-based militants for the attack, identifying two of the suspects as Pakistani nationals.

The Indian military said the operation was executed using precision-guided munitions, drones, and coordinated efforts from the army, navy, and air force. All strikes were launched from Indian territory, targeting what India described as terrorist infrastructure used for recruitment, indoctrination, and training.

Col. Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army stated that the strikes began at 1:05 a.m. and lasted approximately 25 minutes. “These military strikes were designed to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families,” she said.

Targeted Sites and Casualties

The most significant strike occurred in Bahawalpur, where a missile hit a mosque complex associated with JeM. The group confirmed that 10 of Masood Azhar’s family members were killed, including his sister, her husband, a nephew and his wife, a niece, and five children. The Pakistani military reported a total of 13 deaths at the site.

Video footage from the area showed a bright flash as the missile struck the seminary compound. Although students had been evacuated days earlier amid speculation of an impending attack, Azhar’s family remained at the site. The group described the loss as “indescribable” and accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “brutality.”

Further north, in Muridke, four Indian missiles struck a complex over six minutes, demolishing a mosque and an adjacent administrative building. Three people were killed in that strike. India claims the site was linked to LeT, the group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Pakistan, however, maintains the complex was a government-run health and education facility.

Public Mourning and Funeral Processions

In Bahawalpur, thousands of mourners gathered at a local sports stadium for the funeral of Azhar’s relatives. Chants of “Allah Akbar” echoed through the streets as the coffins were carried in solemn processions. The atmosphere was one of grief and anger, with many residents expressing concern over Pakistan’s potential response.

Masood Azhar and his brother Abdul Rauf Asghar, both senior figures in JeM, did not attend the funeral. The road to the mosque complex was cordoned off by authorities following the strike.

Official Responses: India and Pakistan

India’s Defense Ministry described the strikes as “focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature,” emphasizing that no Pakistani military installations were targeted. “The targets we had set were destroyed with exactness according to a well-planned strategy,” said Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. He added that care was taken to avoid civilian casualties.

Pakistan, however, strongly condemned the strikes. The National Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, labeled the operation an “act of war” and claimed that the Indian missiles deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, including mosques. The committee stated that 26 civilians were killed and 46 wounded across six locations.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned India’s top diplomat in Islamabad to formally protest the strikes. “These attacks were carried out on the false pretext of the presence of imaginary terrorist camps,” the ministry said in a statement.

Fallout and Regional Tensions

The strikes have led to heightened military alertness on both sides of the border. Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian jets in retaliation, though India has not confirmed this. Debris from at least one aircraft was found in Wuyan village in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where fires burned for hours and civilian flights were suspended.

The airstrikes also disrupted commercial aviation, with nearly 550 flights canceled across India and Pakistan. International carriers from countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and China were affected.

World leaders have expressed concern over the potential for further escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors. The United Nations Secretary-General called for restraint, urging both sides to avoid actions that could lead to a broader conflict.

Background: Longstanding Hostilities

The latest strikes mark one of the most intense military actions between India and Pakistan in recent years. The two countries have fought multiple wars since their independence in 1947, with Kashmir remaining a flashpoint. Previous Indian airstrikes in 2016 and 2019 followed similar patterns of retaliation after militant attacks.

JeM and LeT, both designated terrorist organizations by the United Nations, have long been accused by India of operating with impunity in Pakistan. Islamabad denies supporting militant groups and accuses India of backing separatist movements within Pakistan.

References

• India fires missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, killing at least 26
• Militant group chief says relatives killed in India strike
• Militant group chief says relatives killed in India strike
• Pakistan calls Indian missile strikes an 'act of war'
• Pakistan vows revenge for air strikes, but signals willingness to de-escalate
• LIVE! Op Sindoor: Control rooms set up across Kashmir - Rediff.com India News