Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Azhar Masood has admitted that ten of his family members were killed in the Indian armed forces’ missile strikes during ‘Operation Sindoor’ launched early Wednesday morning.

In an Urdu statement to the media, Masood revealed, “Ten members of my family, including five children, my elder sister and her husband, my Islamic scholar nephew, his wife, and my niece, along with my old friend Hazifa, his mother, and two other colleagues were killed.”

He accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of targeting civilians. “I am grieved beyond words, but I am neither sorry nor afraid,” he said, adding, “I have been praying to Allah to be among the 14 guests of Allah who were martyred today.”

Masood vowed retaliation, stating that the attacks would not weaken their resolve. “The fallen minaret of Subhanullah mosque will fall on the Indian people in such a way that their future generations won’t forget,” he warned.

Masood also confirmed that funeral prayers for those killed would be held at 4 p.m.

At around 1:44 a.m. on Wednesday, Indian armed forces conducted precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), targeting locations in Muridke, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad, while avoiding military infrastructure.

In retaliation, the Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire with heavy mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in the deaths of seven civilians and injuries to 38 others in the Poonch district.

Pakistani mortar shelling was reported in Uri and Karnah (Kashmir Valley) and Poonch and Rajouri (Jammu division).

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the LoC situation and instructed district officials to evacuate vulnerable populations to safer areas.

In response to the heightened tension, the Indian Air Force has taken control of the Srinagar airport and suspended civilian flights until May 10.