India Slams Pakistan’s ‘Family Man’ Spin On Terrorist Hafiz Abdur Rauf

India on Monday strongly criticised Pakistan’s attempt to downplay the impact of Operation Sindoor.

Indian military calls it a predictable disinformation campaign aimed at misleading its citizens and masking the damage caused by Indian airstrikes on terror infrastructure in PoK.

India Responds To Pakistan’s Narrative

During a press briefing in New Delhi, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, addressed Pakistan’s misleading statements about the funeral of terrorists killed in the operation.

“They are trying to assuage their people and minimise the perception of damage,” Bharti said. “The narrative they spin is not a military concern. We have completed our mission.”

Pakistan Attempts To Distort Terrorist Identity

India highlighted Pakistan’s effort to conflate two individuals: Hafiz Abdur Rauf, a US-designated terrorist and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative, and Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander reportedly killed in the strikes.

Pakistani officials, however, labelled Rauf, who led the funeral prayers for slain terrorists, as a ‘common family man’.

India Presents Photographic Evidence

Indian officials released photographs showing Hafiz Abdur Rauf leading the funeral in Muridke, accompanied by top Pakistani military officers and coffins wrapped in the national flag.

“This clearly shows Pakistan’s institutional support for terrorism,” said officials.

Who Are Hafiz Abdur Rauf & Abdul Rauf Azhar?

The US Treasury sanctioned Hafiz Abdur Rauf, brother of JeM chief Masood Azhar, in 2010.

His CNIC (35202-5400413-9) and date of birth (March 25, 1973) match US sanction records.

He, however, played a key role in running LeT’s operations and linked it to the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF).

Indian officials say Operation Sindoor neutralised Abdul Rauf Azhar, JeM’s operational commander, who orchestrated major attacks, including the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Pakistan’s State Patronage Exposed

India pointed out that the funeral ceremony was not a private event.

High-ranking officials, including Lt Gen Fayyaz Hussain Shah, Maj Gen Rao Imran Sartaj, Brig Mohd Furqan Shabbir, IGP Dr Usman Anwar, and MLA Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bherth, attended the event.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, however, questioned Pakistan, asking why UN-proscribed terrorists led the funerals and why top Pakistani military officers attended if only civilians were killed.