Daniel Pearl, a journalist with The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and brutally murdered in Pakistan in 2002. After 23 years, Operation Sindoor finally brought long-overdue justice to his family.
“Bahawalpur.”
I still have chills in my heart from when I first heard that town’s name in late January 2002. For the 23 years since, I have reported on how Pakistani intelligence and military leaders have used that city — Bahawalpur — in the southern province of Punjab as a base… pic.twitter.com/nFF6geUTp7
— Asra Nomani (@AsraNomani) May 8, 2025
The Pahalgam Terror Attack
On April 22, 2025, militants launched a brutal attack in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 26 civilians, predominantly Hindu tourists. The assailants, armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s, specifically targeted individuals based on their religious identity, asking them to recite Islamic verses or checking for circumcision to identify non-Muslims. Those who failed these tests were executed at close range. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, initially claimed responsibility but later retracted, citing a communications breach.
Launch of Operation Sindoor
In retaliation, India initiated Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. The operation involved precision missile strikes targeting nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. These camps were associated with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. India emphasized that the strikes were aimed solely at terrorist infrastructure, avoiding civilian and Pakistani military facilities.
Justice for Daniel Pearl
A significant outcome of Operation Sindoor was the reported elimination of Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior Jaish-e-Mohammed commander and brother of Masood Azhar. Rauf Azhar was implicated in the 2002 kidnapping and beheading of Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl. His death was seen as a long-overdue act of justice for Pearl’s family and highlighted India’s commitment to combating global terrorism.
International Reactions
"My name is Daniel Pearl… My father is Jewish. My mother is Jewish. I am a Jew."
Thank you India for finally giving Daniel Pearl his Justice.
“Abdul Rauf Azhar, the Pakistani Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist who beheaded American Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl on camera in… pic.twitter.com/xiMs5iJmWO
— Angela Van Der Pluym (@anjewla90) May 8, 2025
The international community responded with a mix of support and concern. The United States closely monitored the situation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing support for India’s counterterrorism efforts. However, there were also calls for restraint to prevent further escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.