Col. (retd.) Dinesh Ramaswamy The news that Pakistan’s government is set to pay Rs 14 crore in compensation to Masood Azhar-a UN-designated global terrorist and chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed-lays bare, yet again, the extent of Islamabad’s complicity with internationally recognised terror networks.
According to official announcements, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a payout of Rs 1 crore for each of the 14 family members of Azhar killed in recent Indian airstrikes on terror camps in Bahawalpur, a key JeM stronghold. This means the notorious terrorist, responsible for some of the deadliest attacks on Indian soil, stands to receive a massive windfall from the Pakistani state itself.
Masood Azhar is not just any militant. He is the mastermind behind the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2016 Uri assault, the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, and several other atrocities. His organisation, Jaish-e-Mohammed, was created with the direct support of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and has long operated with impunity from Pakistani territory. Despite repeated denials, it is an open secret that Azhar continues to live and operate in Pakistan, shielded by the state even after being listed as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.
The payout is especially egregious given that Azhar’s assets are supposed to be frozen under UN sanctions, and he is subject to a travel ban and arms embargo. Yet, the Pakistani government is not only providing him sanctuary but now also direct financial support, under the guise of “compensation” for his relatives. This move comes just days after India’s Operation Sindoor targeted multiple JeM bases, including Azhar’s headquarters in Bahawalpur, resulting in the deaths of his close family members.
For years, Pakistan has made a show of compliance with international counter-terrorism efforts, all while sheltering and enabling figures like Azhar. The current payout exposes the hollowness of Islamabad’s assurances to the world and makes a mockery of the very sanctions regime designed to isolate such individuals.
Do we need any more proof of the Pakistani state’s hand-in-glove relationship with UN-recognised, most-wanted terrorists? The answer is clear. This latest action is not just a diplomatic embarrassment for Pakistan-it is a direct challenge to the global community’s efforts to combat terrorism. The world must take note and demand real accountability, not just empty promises, from Islamabad.
