A controversial move by the Pakistan government has once again raised global eyebrows. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly approved Rs 14 crore as compensation to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief and UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar. The move follows the death of 14 of his family members during India’s precision airstrike—Operation Sindoor—conducted on May 7.

Who is Masood Azhar?

Masood Azhar is a UN-designated terrorist and founder of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, responsible for several deadly terror attacks in India including the 2001 Parliament attack and the Pulwama suicide bombing in 2019. He has been under international scrutiny, with multiple countries demanding strict action against him. Despite this, Pakistan has often denied his presence within its borders and continues to be accused of sheltering him and his associates.

The Fallout of Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was a precision military strike conducted by the Indian armed forces, targeting terror infrastructure in Bahawalpur, located around 400 km from Lahore, Pakistan. The operation, as per Indian officials, strictly focused on eliminating terror facilities, and did not affect civilian regions.

One of the major targets was the JeM headquarters located at Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, also known as the Usman-o-Ali campus. This location had been under surveillance for long due to its links with terrorist activities.

What Happened to Masood Azhar's Family?

According to reports, the Indian airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 14 family members of Masood Azhar, including:

• His elder sister and her husband

• A nephew and his wife

• A niece

• Five children from his extended family

A statement in the Pakistani media attributed to Azhar confirmed these casualties. The loss has reportedly led the Pakistani administration to announce a compensation of Rs 1 crore for each individual killed, taking the total to Rs 14 crore.

Who Gets the Rs 14 Crore Compensation?

Under Pakistani law, the compensation is offered to the legal heirs of the deceased. The critical twist here is that Masood Azhar could be the sole legal heir for most of his deceased family members. If so, he stands to receive the entire Rs 14 crore payout.

Such a payout, if confirmed, would raise serious questions about Pakistan’s internal policy on designated terrorists, and its apparent support system for terror sympathizers.

Additional Commitments by Pakistan

The compensation plan reportedly includes rebuilding the homes destroyed in the airstrikes, a move criticised by Indian officials. Their concern: reconstructed homes could once again serve as terror hubs. The Indian defence establishment has cautioned about the risk of recycled terror infrastructure, drawing parallels to previous instances when such locations were repurposed for jihadi training and recruitment.

India’s Response: Operation Sindoor Was Precise and Justified

Indian military and government sources maintain that Operation Sindoor was executed with full precision and had no collateral damage. The targets were specific terror hideouts, and the operation was launched only after verified intelligence inputs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his post-operation address, said that India would continue to monitor Pakistan’s activities, especially after the ceasefire understanding between both countries. He emphasized that any action promoting or harbouring terrorism would be met with swift and strong response.

Why This Compensation Has Sparked Global Attention

This development has raised serious questions about Pakistan’s global stance on terrorism. While it publicly claims to be cracking down on terrorist groups and denying safe haven to individuals like Masood Azhar, this move sends a completely contradictory signal.

Even more disturbing is the timing of this compensation—coming soon after a widely publicized anti-terror strike by India, the act of compensating a terror mastermind adds fuel to an already strained diplomatic relationship.

International Implications

• The UN Security Council may face pressure to re-evaluate Pakistan’s compliance with anti-terror mandates.

• Countries like the United States, France, and Russia—who have previously supported India’s stance—could push for stricter sanctions or diplomatic isolation of Pakistan.

• India may use this incident to strengthen its case in international forums, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), where Pakistan’s greylisting has been a recurring issue.

Domestic Reactions in Pakistan

There have been mixed reactions within Pakistan. While radical elements and sympathisers of JeM have welcomed the government’s stance, liberal voices and civil society groups have criticised the move. Many see it as a step backwards in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, and fear it could trigger more isolation internationally.

Conclusion: A Dangerous Precedent

If the compensation is carried out as reported, it would set a dangerous precedent, indicating that terrorism and its perpetrators are still being backed—financially and politically—within Pakistan.

This not only impacts India-Pakistan relations but also threatens the regional stability of South Asia, especially as India takes a firmer stand against terrorism in its neighbourhood.

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