New Delhi: Pakistan may end up paying Rs 14 crore in compensation to UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar, following Indian airstrikes under Operation Sindoor, according to reports. The strikes, which targeted terror camps in Bahawalpur, reportedly killed 14 of Azhar’s relatives.
The compensation was reportedly announced by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who committed to providing Rs 1 crore per deceased to the legal heirs of those killed in the Indian airstrikes. With 14 of the deceased reportedly linked to Azhar, the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief could receive the entire sum.
Operation Sindoor Targets JeM Hub in Bahawalpur
The Indian military's May 7 strike was aimed at eliminating terror infrastructure in Bahawalpur, home to JeM’s operational base. The campus, known as Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah or the Usman-o-Ali campus, serves as JeM's headquarters.
According to media reports, those killed included Azhar’s elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, a niece, and several children from his extended family. Although India has stated that the strikes were precision-targeted, Pakistan maintains that the victims were civilians; thus justifying the payout.
Rebuilding Efforts Raise Eyebrows
In addition to monetary compensation, PM Sharif has pledged to rebuild homes destroyed during the airstrikes. However, Indian officials reiterated that only terror training facilities were struck and no civilian properties were harmed during the operation.
The development raised questions about Pakistan’s priorities, with critics arguing that rewarding the family of a designated global terrorist undermines international efforts to curb terrorism.
