Days ahead of the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, a Pakistani leader’s alleged remarks at an event linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba have triggered fresh scrutiny of Pakistan’s ties with terror groups. The leader reportedly claimed that the Pakistan Army fought for designated terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar after India targeted their infrastructure last year.
Pakistani leader Shahir Sialvi reportedly made the remarks at a Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked programme, where he said that “for the first time, the Pakistan Army fought for Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar”.
Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Masood Azhar, chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed, are UN-designated terrorists. The event was also reportedly attended by Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi, who has been designated a terrorist by the United States.
Sialvi also allegedly said India had struck locations in Muridke and Bahawalpur, where several terrorists were killed. He claimed that after the strikes, Pakistan altered its messaging to project those killed as “freedom fighters” rather than terrorists.
CLAIMS OVER FUNERALS AFTER STRIKES
According to the reported remarks, funerals of those killed were led not by clerics but by religious officials of the Pakistan Army.
Sialvi further claimed that uniformed personnel carried the bodies, in what he described as an attempt to signal internationally that the deceased were not terrorists but “fighters” for a cause.
The remarks, if verified, are likely to deepen India’s long-standing allegation that Pakistan’s military establishment supports terror outfits operating from its soil.
OPERATION SINDOOR AND PAHALGAM ATTACK
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.
The operation targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories, including facilities linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The strikes led to four days of intense military clashes, ending with an understanding on May 10 to halt further action.
RAJNATH SINGH PRAISES MILITARY RESPONSE
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday described Operation Sindoor as a “unique” example of India’s use of advanced military technology to deliver a decisive blow to terror groups and their “patrons”.
Speaking at the inauguration of the North Tech symposium, Singh said the operation demonstrated both restraint and precision.
“The decisive response our soldiers gave to the terrorists and their patrons made the entire nation proud. It was a good thing that we showed patience and destroyed only the terrorists; otherwise, the whole world knows what our armed forces are capable of,” he said.
He added that the operation showcased the use of advanced systems and modern equipment to neutralise terrorist infrastructure.
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Published By:
Priyanka Kumari
Published On:
May 5, 2026 13:34 IST
