The leader of the Pakistan-based militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), has reported the deaths of ten of his relatives due to a missile strike by India. Masood Azhar, the chief of JeM, stated that the casualties included his older sister, her husband, his nephew and his nephew's wife, his niece, and five children from his family. This strike reportedly targeted a mosque located in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
On Tuesday night, India launched military strikes on various sites within Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The Indian government has termed these actions a necessary response to a militant attack that occurred two weeks prior in Indian-administered Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 25 Indians and one Nepali. In contrast, Pakistan has vehemently denied any involvement in this attack, which has escalated tensions between the two nations.
Indian authorities have alleged that two of the assailants involved in the deadly attack were Pakistani nationals. Delhi has accused Islamabad of supporting militant groups, a claim that the Pakistani government categorically denies. India justified its military action by asserting that it targeted specific sites where terrorist attacks against India have been orchestrated.
According to reports, Pakistan claims that six locations were hit during the strikes, although it disputes India's allegations that these sites were linked to terrorist infrastructure. Notably, India has asserted that JeM's headquarters in Bahawalpur, situated approximately 100 kilometers inside Pakistan, was among the locations targeted. BBC Verify assessed video footage of the mosque hit during the missile strike, revealing significant damage, including the collapse of one dome and multiple holes in the roof.
On Wednesday, residents of Bahawalpur gathered in mourning as funeral processions for the victims moved through the streets. Many locals expressed their anger over the missile strike while simultaneously voicing concerns regarding Pakistan's potential military response. The international community has urgently called for restraint amidst the escalating tensions between these two nuclear-armed nations.
Masood Azhar founded Jaish-e-Mohammed in 1999 following his release from an Indian prison. The group has been linked to both al Qaeda and the Taliban, as noted by the UN Security Council. In 2019, the UN designated Azhar as a terrorist. India has previously attributed a 2001 attack on its parliament to JeM, a claim that the group denies. After this incident, Pakistan imposed a ban on JeM. Additionally, JeM claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in February 2019 that resulted in the deaths of 40 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Following the missile strikes on Tuesday night, Pakistani authorities reported a death toll of 31, while Indian officials indicated that at least 15 civilians were killed due to Pakistani shelling. The unfolding situation continues to draw attention from global leaders who are advocating for de-escalation and dialogue between the two countries.
