Move Sparks International Outrage Amidst Ongoing Counterterrorism Efforts
Massod Azhar to get Rs 14 crore compensation for deceased kins in Operation Sindoor. (Image Source: Express Photo)
In a decision that has ignited international condemnation, the Pakistani government has announced a compensation package totaling Rs 14 crore to Masood Azhar, the UN-designated terrorist and founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). This follows the deaths of 14 of his family members during India's recent Operation Sindoor airstrikes targeting terror camps in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's administration has pledged Rs 1 crore for each deceased individual, along with commitments to rebuild destroyed properties. The fatalities reportedly include Azhar's elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, a niece, and five children from his extended family .
Operation Sindoor, conducted on May 7, 2025, was a precision strike by the Indian military targeting JeM's operational hub in Bahawalpur, which houses the group's headquarters at Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, also known as the Usman-o-Ali campus . The operation aimed to dismantle terrorist infrastructure following the Pahalgam attack.
The compensation decision has drawn sharp criticism from the international community, raising concerns about Pakistan's commitment to counterterrorism efforts. Critics argue that providing financial support to a globally recognized terrorist undermines global security initiatives and could embolden extremist activities.
Masood Azhar, born in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, in 1968, is a prominent militant leader who founded JeM, a Pakistan-based jihadist organization. He has been implicated in several high-profile terrorist attacks, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack . Despite being designated as an international terrorist by the United Nations Security Council in 2019, Azhar has continued to operate with relative impunity within Pakistan.
The Pakistani government's compensation to Azhar has intensified scrutiny over its counterterrorism policies and raised questions about its role in harboring and supporting terrorist entities. As global leaders call for accountability and a reevaluation of Pakistan's actions, the situation underscores the complexities of international counterterrorism cooperation and the challenges in addressing state-supported extremism.
