Operation Sindoor Shock: Moeen Ali Reveals Parents Were in PoK During Indian Strikes
In a gripping revelation that blends the personal with the geopolitical, England all-rounder Moeen Ali has disclosed a deeply unsettling experience from the time of Operation Sindoor, a covert Indian military operation targeting militant camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Currently representing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Moeen opened up about the harrowing moment when he learned his parents were perilously close to the conflict zone.
‘My parents were in Kashmir, in PoK, when the strikes of Operation Sindoor occurred,’ Moeen shared on the popular podcast Beard Before Wicket. ‘They were just about an hour or so away from the strike zones. It was utterly surreal and terrifying. Thankfully, they managed to catch one of the last flights out that day. I was relieved beyond words, but the whole situation was just madness.’
The timing of Operation Sindoor, which took place in late 2019 as a response to escalating tensions in the region, coincided with Moeen’s IPL stint. Reflecting on the abrupt halt of the IPL due to security concerns, he recounted, ‘It felt like we were caught in the middle of a war zone. While we didn’t hear missiles or direct conflict, the uncertainty was overwhelming. The priority was getting out of the country and ensuring my family was safe. People back home were worried sick, and I just wanted to reassure them.’
Moeen, whose family hails from Pakistan, also shared the confusion and fear that gripped players and locals alike during this tense period. A notable incident during an IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala—where play was interrupted due to nationwide blackouts—further heightened the anxiety. ‘No one knew what was really happening,’ he explained. ‘Some teammates thought it would blow over, saying such events had happened before. Others feared a full-scale war or retaliation. The hardest part was the barrage of misinformation from news outlets. You didn’t know who or what to believe.’
The uncertainty around potential flight cancellations added another layer of stress for Moeen and fellow players, particularly those with ties to India and Pakistan. ‘We were most worried about not being able to leave,’ he admitted. ‘But I can only imagine how much tougher it must have been for local players or those with direct connections to the conflict zones, stuck in a limbo of not knowing what’s next.’
Moeen Ali’s candid account sheds light on the often unseen personal toll that geopolitical conflicts can exact on athletes, especially in a high-stakes environment like the IPL, which annually brings together players from across the globe. His story is a stark reminder of how sports, while a unifying force, cannot escape the larger currents of international tensions. As the IPL 2023 season progresses, Moeen’s revelations resonate as a poignant narrative of family, fear, and the fragile line between normalcy and chaos.