How Jaish Member Exposed Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's Terror Tango
A video of Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, a top commander of the terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad went viral where he claimed that the Pakistan Army and its Chief, Asim Munir had "sent generals to funerals" of those killed in Operation Sindoor.
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Jaish commander revealed that Munir dispatched generals to attend terrorists' funerals following Operation Sindoor. (File pic)
A new controversy has emerged after a viral video featuring Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, a senior commander of terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), claimed that Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir had "sent generals to funerals" of terrorists eliminated during India's Operation Sindoor.
While Islamabad has consistently denied officially supporting terrorist groups operating from Pakistani territory, Kashmiri's statements at the 38th Mission Mustafa conference openly suggested that Mr. Munir's military leadership had directed high-ranking officers to attend funeral services for terrorists killed in Indian counter-terrorism operations.
During a May press conference in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri presented evidence including a photograph showing US-designated terrorist Abdur Rauf leading prayers at one such funeral. Mr. Misri highlighted that those killed were wrapped in Pakistan's flag and given "state honours" at these ceremonies.
"From our perspective, the individuals eliminated at these facilities were terrorists. The practice of giving terrorists state funerals may exist in Pakistan. It's something we find difficult to comprehend," Mr. Misri stated.
Mr. Munir has additionally drawn international criticism for provocative nuclear rhetoric. Speaking in Tampa, Florida this August, the Pakistan army chief issued a stark warning regarding potential conflict with India: "We are a nuclear nation. If we think we're going down, we'll take half the world down with us," according to reports.
These statements prompted severe criticism in Washington, with former Pentagon official Michael Rubin describing Pakistan's behavior as that of "a rogue state." Mr. Rubin further compared Munir's rhetoric to that of Osama bin Laden and the Islamic State.
"Americans tend to view terrorism through a lens of grievance...They fail to grasp the ideological foundations driving many terrorists. Asim Munir is essentially Osama bin Laden wearing a suit," he remarked.
Despite these concerns, Mr. Munir was welcomed at the White House for a lunch meeting with US President Donald Trump on June 18, shortly after India's Operation Sindoor. US Central Command leader General Michael Kurilla even described Pakistan as a "phenomenal partner" in counter-terrorism initiatives.
Pakistan continues to face international scrutiny, however. Though removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List in 2022, India has been advocating for its reinstatement.
"India plans to submit a dossier to the FATF regarding Pakistan's inclusion in the terror grey list again," a government official stated, according to The Hindu. "Pakistan was removed from the list in 2022 with the condition that it would implement anti-terror legislation. Since that law hasn't materialized, the FATF itself has sufficient grounds to reinstate Pakistan on the list. India's dossier will provide additional evidence."