Pakistan PM Announces Compensation for Families Affected by Operation Sindoor

Compensation for Victims' Families

In a surprising announcement, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, has declared a comprehensive support package, including a compensation of ₹1 crore for each family of those who lost their lives during India's Operation Sindoor. This decision will lead to a total payout of ₹14 crore to Masood Azhar, a UN-designated terrorist and leader of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), who reportedly lost 14 relatives in the operation.

Details of the Compensation

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the compensation is aimed at the families affected by the Indian airstrikes. These strikes, part of Operation Sindoor, specifically targeted terrorist camps located in Bahawalpur, Pakistan's 12th-largest city and a known operational base for JeM. Bahawalpur is situated around 400 km from Lahore and is home to the JeM headquarters at Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, also referred to as the Usman-o-Ali campus.

Casualties Among Azhar's Family

Masood Azhar has confirmed that among those who perished were his elder sister and her spouse, a nephew and his wife, a niece, along with five children from his extended family. As Azhar is likely the sole surviving legal heir, he stands to receive ₹1 crore for each of the 14 deceased family members, amounting to a total of ₹14 crore.

Reconstruction Plans Amid Concerns

In addition to the financial compensation, Prime Minister Sharif has announced plans to reconstruct homes that were destroyed during the airstrikes. This has raised alarms, as Indian defense officials have repeatedly asserted that the May 7 strikes were precise and targeted solely at terrorist installations, with no civilian areas affected. As Pakistan commits to rebuilding, India is expected to keep a vigilant eye on whether these reconstructed sites are repurposed for terrorist activities.

Overview of Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor was executed by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7, 2025, aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This operation was a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including 25 Indians and one Nepali, in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack was linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy group of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), with India accusing Pakistan of complicity.