New Delhi: In a move that has triggered outrage in India and raised international concerns, Pakistan is reportedly preparing to pay ₹14 crore in compensation to Masood Azhar, the UN-listed terrorist and chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The reported compensation is for the death of 14 of Azhar’s relatives during India’s precision airstrikes under Operation Sindoor.
₹1 crore per victim: PM Sharif’s decision under scrutiny
According to a report published by The Tribune India, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sanctioned ₹1 crore compensation per individual killed during the strikes. If Azhar is deemed the sole legal heir, he could receive the entire ₹14 crore.
The victims included Azhar’s elder sister, her husband, a nephew and his wife, a niece, and several children. They were killed during the Indian Air Force operation that targeted terrorist infrastructure in Bahawalpur, located around 400 km from Lahore.
What was Operation Sindoor?
Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor was India’s response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which left over two dozen dead. Indian intelligence had linked the attack to JeM operatives.
The airstrike targeted Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, also known as the Usman-o-Ali Campus, considered JeM’s headquarters. Indian officials emphasized that only terror-linked infrastructure was hit, with minimal civilian impact.
Compensation for a terrorist? Global backlash grows
In addition to the compensation, the Pakistani government has reportedly pledged to rebuild homes destroyed during the strikes. This has alarmed both Indian and international observers, who fear such actions may enable renewed terrorist activity.
One Indian defence official stated, “Providing such compensation raises serious questions about Pakistan’s counter-terrorism intent.”
India reacts strongly
In his first statement following Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that India would closely monitor Pakistan’s response in light of the fragile ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
International concerns over Pakistan’s message
The move has drawn international criticism, with experts suggesting that compensating the family of a UN-designated terrorist sends the wrong message and could undermine regional peace efforts.
Observers note that the timing of this controversy — amid heightened global scrutiny of Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism — is particularly damaging for Islamabad’s international credibility.
