Kathmandu-Operation Sindoor 2025 has captured global attention. India launched a high-precision missile strike on May 7, 2025, targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) bases in Pakistan. The action followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. The Bahawalpur strike alone reportedly claimed the lives of 10 family members and 4 close aides of JeM chief Masood Azhar.
What Triggered Operation Sindoor?
On April 22, 2025, gunmen attacked tourists in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, selectively targeting individuals based on religion. TRF (The Resistance Front), allegedly a proxy of JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility. In retaliation, India initiated Operation Sindoor at 1:44 AM on May 7, conducting strikes on nine confirmed terror-linked locations.
Key Locations Targeted
- Bahawalpur – Masood Azhar’s residence
- Kotli and Muzaffarabad – Known JeM camps
- Sialkot – Suspected TRF facilities
- Additional: LeT-connected outposts
Confirmed Casualties in Bahawalpur
- Gul Naz – Azhar’s sister
- Rahmatullah – Brother-in-law
- Aamir Azhar – Nephew
- Shabina Aamir – Nephew’s wife
- Hina Azhar – Niece
- Five unnamed children
- Four close associates
Masood Azhar’s Response
“Ten of my family and four close aides died. None were fighters. India struck our home while they slept. This is not war—it’s cowardice,” said Azhar in a statement shared via encrypted channels and reported by Livemint.
Who is Masood Azhar?
Azhar is a UN-designated global terrorist since 2019. He founded JeM in 2000, an extremist group operating from Pakistan. JeM has claimed or been linked to multiple major terror attacks:
- 2001 – Parliament Attack in New Delhi (9 killed)
- 2016 – Pathankot Airbase Attack (7 killed)
- 2019 – Pulwama Bombing (40+ CRPF jawans killed)
The TRF and JeM Nexus
TRF was behind the April 22 Pahalgam killings. Indian intelligence suspects TRF functions as a front for LeT and JeM, allowing Pakistan-based actors to mask cross-border operations as local insurgency. This connection was critical in justifying the Bahawalpur airstrike.
Why Groups Like JeM Target India
Their core goal: to detach Kashmir from India and establish an Islamic regime or merge it with Pakistan. Indian officials claim these groups receive covert support from Pakistan’s ISI, using terrorism as a strategic tool.
Operation Sindoor 2025 International Reaction
The United Nations, European Union, and United States have urged restraint, while Pakistan denounced India’s action as civilian targeting. India insists the operation was surgical and intelligence-based. Pakistan closed its airspace and placed key diplomatic channels on hold.
Conclusion
As the dust settles, Operation Sindoor stands out not just as a military move—but a powerful signal in South Asia’s counterterrorism stance. For Masood Azhar, the consequences have reached home.
