NextFin news, On Tuesday, Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, striking terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), resulting in the deaths of family members of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and several terrorists. The operation targeted multiple terror infrastructure sites, including the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Jaish commander Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, in a video confession, admitted that on May 7, during the Bahawalpur strikes, Masood Azhar's family was "torn into pieces" by Indian forces. He stated, "After sacrificing everything, on May 7 in Bahawalpur, Maulana Masood Azhar's family members—sisters, sons, and children—were shredded and torn apart." The video showed Kashmiri surrounded by armed personnel.
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists. The Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror camps overnight, including four in Punjab and five in PoK. Key targets included the Subhan Allah complex in Bahawalpur, a known hub for JeM activities.
Bahawalpur, located approximately 400 kilometers from Lahore, houses JeM's operational nerve center, including the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, also known as the Usman-o-Ali campus. It also hosts Pakistan Army headquarters and an airbase. Masood Azhar owns two houses in the city, near prominent mosques and government offices.
Satellite imagery from American-based Maxar Technologies showed extensive damage to terror sites in Bahawalpur and Muridke following the strikes. Reports confirmed that 10 members of Masood Azhar's family, including his elder sister and brother-in-law, along with four close aides, were killed in the operation.
Masood Azhar is a designated terrorist involved in major attacks such as the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, 2008 Mumbai attacks, 2016 Pathankot attack, and 2019 Pulwama attack. India has repeatedly demanded his extradition, which Pakistan denies despite mounting evidence.
The operation and its outcomes were confirmed by multiple sources including Navbharat Times, Swarajya Magazine, Free Press Journal, and News Arena on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
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