New Delhi: Pakistan’s persistent denials of its involvement in cross-border terrorism have been starkly contradicted by irrefutable evidence, as the Indian Army has now revealed the names and affiliations of top Pakistan Army officials who attended the funerals of terrorists recently eliminated during India’s “Operation Sindoor.” This revelation comes on the heels of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s earlier disclosure of photographic evidence showing Pakistan Army personnel openly participating in these funerals, further exposing the deep-rooted nexus between the Pakistani state and designated terrorist organizations.
The brazen attendance of high-ranking Pakistani military officials at the funerals of known terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike following the deadly Pahalgam attack in J&K, paints a damning picture of Pakistan’s continued support and harbouring of terrorism. While Islamabad vehemently denied any connection to the April 22 attack that claimed 26 lives, the evidence presented by India unequivocally demonstrates the state’s complicity in nurturing and even venerating those who perpetrate violence against its neighbour.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had previously presented a photograph of Hafiz Abdul Rafiq, a US-designated global terrorist and senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, leading the funeral prayers for the terrorists neutralized in Operation Sindoor. This act itself raised serious questions about Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism. Now, the Indian Army has gone a step further, identifying the specific Pakistan Army officials who were present at these শোক gatherings, effectively stripping away any semblance of deniability.
The identified Pakistan Army officials who attended the terrorists’ funerals include:
- Lt General Fayyaz Hussain Shah, HI (M) – Corps Commander IV Corps, Lahore
- Major General Rao Imran Satraj
- Brig Mohd Furqan Shabbir – Cdr 15 Hy Mech Bde, Lahore (ex 11 Inf Div/ 4 Corps)
- Dr. Usman Anwar – IGP Punjab
- Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bherth – Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab
The presence of such high-ranking officers underscores the institutional support that terrorist elements enjoy within Pakistan’s military establishment. This blatant endorsement of individuals responsible for heinous acts of terror against India further solidifies Pakistan’s role as a state sponsor of terrorism, a fact that India has consistently highlighted on international platforms.
Adding another layer of concern, the funeral ceremonies were not just attended by military personnel. Dr. Usman Anwar, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Punjab, and Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bherth, a Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, were also present, indicating a broader state endorsement of these terrorists.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had earlier questioned the message Pakistan was sending to the world by conducting funerals with state honors for individuals who terrorists were undeniably. He pointed out the absurdity of draping coffins in Pakistani flags and according state honors to those eliminated for their involvement in terrorism. “As far as we are concerned, the individuals eliminated at these facilities were terrorists. Giving terrorists state funerals may be a practice in Pakistan. It doesn’t seem to make much sense to us,” Misri had stated, highlighting the stark difference in how India and Pakistan view these elements.
Furthermore, Misri had also drawn attention to Pakistan’s contradictory stance at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where it opposed the listing of The Resistance Front (TRF), a known front group of the LeT, which had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. This opposition, coupled with the public honoring of terrorists linked to the LeT, exposes Pakistan’s duplicitous policy of outwardly condemning terrorism while covertly supporting and celebrating its perpetrators.
Reports from PTI and CNN-News18, along with circulating videos, corroborated the presence of Pakistani forces at the funerals, specifically mentioning the funeral prayers for Qari Abdul Malik, Khalid, and Mudassir held in Muridke under tight security. Notably, Rauf, the chairman of Al Khidmat, another front organisation of the LeT, led the prayer, further cementing the connection between the state, its military, and these terrorist outfits.
