Daijiworld Media Network - Islamabad

Islamabad, Sep 16: In a rare and candid admission, a senior Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander has confirmed that India’s precision strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ inflicted massive damage on the Pakistan-based terror outfit — including the death of family members of its founder, Masood Azhar.

Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, a commander of JeM, acknowledged in a widely circulated video that the Indian armed forces' May 7 strikes on Bahawalpur "tore to shreds" the family of Azhar, including women and children. Bahawalpur, a known stronghold of JeM and the location of its headquarters, was one of several targets hit during the retaliatory operation launched by India after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

“This nonsense of terrorism, which we held close to our hearts... on May 7, the family of Maulana Masood Azhar... were killed and torn to shreds in Bahawalpur,” said Ilyas Kashmiri during a public address, flanked by armed men.

The video, shared online by BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, comes amid broader geopolitical tensions and growing evidence of Pakistan’s continued support to terror outfits despite global pressure. According to Indian intelligence sources, 'Operation Sindoor' targeted high-value JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) assets across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), with confirmed strikes on nine sites including Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muridke.

Major Blow to JeM

Bahawalpur houses the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, also known as the Usman-o-Ali campus, the core headquarters of JeM. Following the strikes, Pakistani media also reported Masood Azhar acknowledging the death of 10 family members in the Indian offensive. Indian agencies have since intensified surveillance on Azhar, with the ISI reportedly relocating him multiple times. For nearly ten days, he was held at a secure location in Rawalpindi, with some reports claiming a brief move to Afghanistan.

Notably, the JeM has abandoned plans to rebuild its Bahawalpur headquarters and is now seeking a site closer to a Pakistani Army installation, a move aimed at shielding itself from further attacks.

Deteriorating Morale

Security agencies note that the morale within JeM ranks is alarmingly low, especially in comparison to the LeT. Indian strikes, including the recent ‘Operation Mahadev’, have intensified pressure on these outfits, forcing their leadership further underground. LeT chief Hafiz Saeed and JeM’s Masood Azhar are now reportedly under heavy protection, with Pakistan’s security establishment working to ensure their survival amid international scrutiny.

The JeM commander’s public acknowledgment is seen as a rare admission of defeat, and a reflection of India’s evolving counter-terrorism strategy — one that blends precision military operations with strategic intelligence, pressuring terror networks at both structural and psychological levels.

As India continues to strike deep into terror infrastructure across the border, such admissions lend credibility to claims of decisive blows being dealt to Pakistan-backed terror outfits, marking a significant shift in the regional security dynamic.