Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a gathering in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh on his 75th birthday, praised the Indian armed forces for their decisive strike in Operation Sindoor. He highlighted how the offensive left Pakistan-backed terror groups shaken, with a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander admitting the devastating impact of the May 7 operation.
The Prime Minister referred to a recently surfaced confession video in which senior JeM figure Masood Ilyas Kashmiri revealed that the Indian military destroyed their Bahawalpur base, inflicting heavy casualties on the family of the group’s leader, Maulana Masood Azhar. Modi said, “Just yesterday, the nation and the world saw another Pakistani terrorist weeping as he spoke about his condition. This is the new India. We do not fear anyone’s nuclear threats. We strike inside enemy territory when needed.”
He went on to emphasize that India places the highest priority on protecting its citizens. “Pakistani terrorists violated the dignity of our sisters and daughters. In response, Operation Sindoor destroyed their terror camps. Our brave soldiers brought Pakistan to its knees in the blink of an eye,” he declared, earning loud applause from the crowd.
The video testimony by Kashmiri confirmed the scale of the Indian operation. “We embraced terrorism, fought Delhi, Kabul, and Kandahar to protect Pakistan’s borders. But on May 7, Indian missiles destroyed our Bahawalpur headquarters. Maulana Masood Azhar’s family was torn apart,” he confessed. His message revealed that JeM’s central base, Markaz Subhan Allah, was one of nine targets hit during the strikes.
Reports later indicated that ten members of Azhar’s family had been killed. A day after the assault, JeM acknowledged the deaths in a WhatsApp message circulated among its network. The admission, coupled with the public breakdown of one of its top commanders, underscored the devastating blow the group suffered.
Operation Sindoor has been portrayed by Indian officials as a defining moment in the fight against cross-border terrorism. By targeting key strongholds deep inside Pakistan, the operation not only neutralized high-value assets but also sent a powerful message about India’s resolve to safeguard national security.
As Modi marked his birthday, his remarks reflected both pride in the military’s achievements and a warning that India’s patience with terrorism has ended.
