How India's Operation Sindoor in Bahawalpur delivered the justice denied to Daniel Pearl in Pakistan
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Justice, long delayed
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In a powerful military response to the Pahalgam terror attack , India's Operation Sindoor has eliminated nearly 100 terrorists, including key Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander Abdul Rauf Azhar — a central figure in the 2002 murder of American-Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl. By doing so, India has not only responded to a fresh act of terror on its soil, but has also delivered long-overdue justice in a case that haunted global conscience for over two decades.Pearl, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal , was abducted in Karachi in January 2002 while investigating links between Pakistan's military and extremist groups. A month later, a video of his brutal beheading emerged. The mastermind behind his killing was Omar Saeed Sheikh — a terrorist whose release had been secured through the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814, orchestrated by none other than Abdul Rauf Azhar.On 7 May, Indian forces executed airstrikes on nine key terror hideouts across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Among the locations was Bahawalpur's Markaz Subhan Allah — the nerve centre of JeM's operations and indoctrination. Intelligence reports suggest that Azhar was killed in the strike, along with 10 of Masood Azhar's family members, including his sister and brother-in-law. Masood Azhar later issued a statement confirming these deaths.The Indian government briefed opposition leaders, confirming: '#OperationSindoor: Precise strikes carried out on 9 terror hideouts, close to 100 terrorists killed, counting still underway.' Officials added, 'India does not wish to escalate, but won't back down if Pakistan acts.'Government sources clarified that India's actions were not targeted at any nation or community, but solely against those responsible for crimes against humanity. 'This action is not just in India's interest, it resonates with the broader global fight against terrorism ,' a senior official said.For many, the killing of Azhar represents a turning point. His role in the IC-814 hijacking had led directly to the release of Sheikh, who later abducted and murdered Pearl. It was a sequence of terror that began in Kandahar and ended in Karachi.Asra Nomani, Pearl's colleague and a fellow journalist, recalled the link between Bahawalpur and her friend's death. Writing on X, she said, 'My friend, WSJ reporter Danny Pearl, went to Bahawalpur in December 2001 with a notebook and a pen. Gen. Pervez Musharraf had just promised he was shutting down Pakistan's militant groups... Danny reported on the militant offices in Bahawalpur. He literally knocked on their doors.'She added: 'Danny was no cowboy. This was a calculated low-risk reporting trip because no journalist had been targeted for kidnapping in Pakistan... Danny sent me an email: 'I'm anxious to go to Afghanistan, but I'm not anxious to die.''American activist Amy Mek also reacted strongly to the news of Azhar's killing, 'Today, India delivered justice for the brutal murder of American-Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl by eliminating Abdul Rauf Azhar... He conspired to murder Daniel Pearl. Operation Sindoor struck at the heart of terror, hitting Jaish-e-Mohammed strongholds.'She concluded with: 'To India, we say THANK YOU... The West must learn from India's stance on Islamic terror. Islamic jihad has no place in a civilised world.'India's actions have received rare and widespread international backing. The United States has openly supported India's right to self-defence. Congressman Shri Thanedar said: 'Terrorism cannot be tolerated and it cannot go unpunished. India has the right to defend its people.'British Foreign Minister condemned the April 22 Pahalgam attack and urged Pakistan to act against terror. MPs Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel echoed support for India's right to strike back against 'vile terrorist infrastructure'.France also expressed solidarity. Its Foreign Office stated: 'France supports India in its fight against terrorist groups.' Similarly, Israel's Ambassador to India remarked: 'Terrorists should know there is no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent.'Dutch MP Geert Wilders tweeted in support, writing 'Kashmir is 100% Indian' and used the hashtag #PakistanBehindPahalgam.Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: 'The Republic of Panama stands with India in this tragic loss and in the ongoing fight against terrorism.'Operation Sindoor, named after the vermilion worn by Indian women as a symbol of life and commitment, was launched in the wake of the Pahalgam attack that left many families shattered. By targeting those behind decades of terror — not only in India but against the international community — the operation has gained symbolic weight far beyond its immediate military goals.As the Indian government made clear, the mission was not about retaliation but about resolution — about ensuring that no terrorist feels safe, and that justice is delivered, no matter how long it takes.In this case, after 23 long years, Daniel Pearl's story may have finally found its ending.
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