New Delhi, May 12: Pakistan has tried to debunk the fact that Hafiz Abdur Rauf, who led the funeral of terrorists killed in the recent Operation Sindoor strikes, is a US-designated global terrorist and senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader, terming him as “a common family man”.

Behind Abdur Rauf, high-ranking Pakistani military officers stood in solemn attendance, and coffins draped in Pakistan’s national flag underscored what Indian officials called the state’s overt support for terrorism.

At a press briefing in New Delhi, Indian officials shared a photograph of Rauf leading the funeral procession, accompanied by Pakistan Army officers in uniform.

The image has since gone viral, sparking widespread debate and outrage. Rauf, who is the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, is a US Treasury-designated Specially Designated Global Terrorist under OFAC sanctions, with a known history of managing LeT finances and propaganda.

Pakistan’s military attempted to downplay the revelation, with the DGISPR describing Rauf as a “common family man” and a “preacher”. His national identity card was presented to the media in an effort to portray him as a non-combatant.

However, official documentation — including Rauf’s CNIC number (35202-5400413-9) and birthdate (March 25, 1973) — matched those listed in the US sanctions.

During a recent media briefing on Operation Sindoor, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri questioned Pakistan’s narrative while holding the damning photo, stating, “They claim that only civilians were killed in the strikes on the 7th of May. We have made the point very clearly that all attacks on the morning of 7th May were against carefully selected terrorist infrastructure, terrorist targets?”

The Pakistani military has also tried to confuse the issue by conflating Hafiz Abdur Rauf with Abdul Rauf Azhar, another of Masood Azhar’s brothers and a senior Jaish-e-Mohammed commander, who was reportedly eliminated in Operation Sindoor.

They questioned how someone declared dead by India could lead a funeral later the same day. However, the two are separate individuals, both on international watchlists, and both deeply embedded in the terror ecosystem of Pakistan.

Rauf Azhar, JeM’s operations chief, was a key planner of the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and played a central role in the 2001 Parliament attack, 2016 Pathankot airbase strike, and 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Meanwhile, the presence of Pakistani top brass at the funeral further reinforced allegations of institutional support for terrorists.

Among those in attendance were Lt Gen Fayyaz Hussain Shah, Corps Commander, IV Corps, Lahore; Maj Gen Rao Imran Sartaj, GOC, 11 Infantry Division; Brig Mohammad Furqan Shabbir, Commander, 15 Hybrid Mechanised Brigade; Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar; and Punjab MLA Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bherth.

According to the US Treasury, Hafiz Abdur Rauf worked directly under LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, managing fundraising and training operations. He has also been a key figure in Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), a LeT front posing as a charity but used to finance terrorist activities.

Both FIF and Rauf were sanctioned by the US on November 24, 2010, following Indian intelligence inputs post the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The visuals from Muridke — where the funeral was held — depict a state ceremony, not a private religious service.

“It is not clear to us, in fact, seeing some of the coverage of the aftereffects of these strikes, including the funerals for the terrorists that were held yesterday. I think a lot of you have seen the reports and the coverage in the media. If only civilians, or if any civilians were killed in these attacks, I wonder what message this picture actually sends to all of you. This is a question that is worth asking,” Misri had said while holding a photograph that showed UN-proscribed Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba’s top Commander Hafiz Abdur Rauf leading the funeral prayers of LeT terrorists killed in Indian airstrikes in Muridke on Wednesday.

The fallout is another example of how Pakistan shields designated terror groups and fosters terrorism.

Mumbai, May 12: The Shiv Sena(UBT) has strongly expressed displeasure over the US President Donald Trump’s ‘intervention’ in the India-Pakistan conflict and his announcement of a ceasefire.

In a scathing editorial in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the Shiv Sena(UBT) asked, “Who gave the President authority? Did President Trump buy India’s sovereignty? In exchange for what? Exactly, “What deal was made? The country must know.”

“The Indian Army and Air Force have foiled the drones and missiles launched by Pakistan against India. They have given a befitting reply to the Pakistanis, but while doing all this, the exact whereabouts of the six terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack have not been traced. The trigger for the India-Pak conflict was the killing of 26 innocent people by six terrorists. But President Trump has poured water. President Trump wants peace to prevail between India and Pakistan. He is not Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, or Nelson Mandela. He is a businessman. The ruling businessmen of India have joined hands with the businessmen of America. President Trump has not stopped the Israel-Palestine war. By directly supporting Israel, he watches the deaths of the people of Gaza and preaches peace to India,” said the editorial.

“India is a sovereign and independent nation. No outside country has the right to interfere in our nation, but US President Trump has intervened in the India-Pakistan conflict, and India has accepted Trump’s ceasefire proposal. Trump announced on his ‘X’ account that India has accepted the ceasefire. Till then, the people of India and the Indian Army were not aware of this ceasefire. Who gave President Trump this authority?” asked the Shiv Sena(UBT) in the editorial.

“According to the Simla Agreement signed between the two nations after the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a third nation was not allowed to intervene in the conflict between the two nations. However, now the Prime Minister of India has violated the Simla Agreement. India succumbed to Trump’s pressure and ratified the ceasefire, but was ‘Operation Sindoor’ or Pakistan’s revenge completed? The country has not received an answer to this,” said the editorial.

“Twelve innocent civilians were killed in the Pakistani attack in Poonch-Rajouri. What was their mistake? Prime Minister Modi was so eager that amid the conflict between India and Pakistan, there was no turning back. Just as Modi’s eagerness was generating new energy in the country and the army, President Trump struck a deal. Seven Indian soldiers died in the Pakistani attack. One of them is Murali Naik from Mumbai, and this young martyr is only 23 years old. Murali Naik and Dinesh Sharma died while responding to Pakistani firing in the Uri sector. Dinesh Sharma is also a young soldier. He fought with Pakistan in the Poonch sector. He showed unparalleled bravery for the country and made the supreme sacrifice of his life to protect Mother India. Thousands of such Dinesh Sharmas and Murali Naiks are fighting on the Indian border and are taking bullets in their chests. Murali Naik’s parents live in a slum in Ghatkopar. They work hard to run their household. The only son of Mother India, he was martyred while fighting on the country’s border to protect it. Murali’s father said, “I am proud that my son has come to serve the country,” but in the end, he will be sad that his stomach has been emptied. Those who have been swept up in the political frenzy of war should remember this,” said the editorial.

“Those who have been charged up due to the political frenzy of war have never sacrificed for the country, nor have they shown any bravery, but the propaganda is going on as if this war is being fought by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its own people. The government has closed down news agencies and a few channels. Even after the ceasefire game has started, the Defence Minister is raking up Operation Sindoor. However, the basic questions still remain that is, how did those six terrorists come and how did they disappear? Why was their whereabouts not known? These questions will be asked. Seven terrorists of the terrorist organisation. Jaish-e-Mohammed, who tried to infiltrate into India from the Samba sector in Jammu on Thursday midnight, were killed by the brave jawans of the Border Security Force. These same soldiers destroyed the outpost on the Pakistani border. This is commendable and every Indian citizen should know,” said the editorial.

“Pakistan is standing firm, and the Pakistani Prime Minister has rubbed salt in the wounds of 26 sisters who were left destitute in the Pahalgam attack by claiming that ‘we won the war’. While all this is happening, the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and Home Minister are nowhere to be seen. Before the war started, Home Minister Amit Shah had said in Parliament that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is a part of India. We will even give our lives for it, but when the Indian Army moved forward to take Kashmir, Modi-Shah simply accepted the ceasefire and surrendered to President Trump. Have the sacrifices of seven soldiers in the conflict with Pakistan gone in vain?” asked the Shiv Sena (UBT).

“One should be proud of the action. If the infiltration of seven Jaish terrorists on the Indian border is stopped and they are killed, then how were the terrorists who entered the tourist spot of Pahalgam and attacked indiscriminately allowed to enter? How were they left free? How were they allowed to wipe the vermilion of 26 sisters, and what happened to them after doing this? These questions arise,” said the editorial.

New Delhi, May 10: A few minutes after US President Donald Trump announced a “full and immediate ceasefire” between India and Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 5 PM Indian Standard Time, on Saturday.

“The Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan called the Director General of Military Operations of India at 1535 hrs earlier this afternoon. It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 1700 hrs Indian Standard Time today,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a short media briefing.

“Instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding. The Director General of Military Operations will talk again on the 12th of May at 1200 hours,” the Foreign Secretary added.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced a “full and immediate ceasefire” between India and Pakistan without sharing any details of the negotiations or the ceasefire.

US Secretary of State Rubio also said in a State Department statement that he and Vice-President J D Vance conducted the ceasefire negotiations.

“After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns.

“Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.

Secretary of State Rubio said in a separate statement: “Over the past 48 hours, Vice President Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik.

“I am pleased to announce the Governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site. We commend Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace,” he stated.