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"Parents Were In PoK Near Missile Strike" Moeen Ali Recalls Horrors Of Indo-Pak Conflict

Akshita Patel

Moeen Ali makes big revelation amid IND-PAK conflict [Source: @JunaidKhanation/X.com]Moeen Ali makes big revelation amid IND-PAK conflict [Source: @JunaidKhanation/X.com]

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has opened up about the terrifying moments during the recent India-Pakistan conflict that temporarily halted the IPL 2025 season. He revealed that his parents were in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), just an hour away from the site where Indian missiles struck as part of Operation Sindoor. 

Moeen, who has Pakistan roots, chose not to return for IPL 2025 after it resumed this week, as he initially fled the country following the border conflict. 

However, during the Indian military’s Operation Sindoor, Ali’s family reportedly had a last-minute escape in Pakistan. 

Moeen Ali’s Family Escaped India’s Missile Strike In PoK

In response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, the Indian army launched Operation Sindoor and carried out missile strikes in PoK to neutralise 9 terrorist base camps. 

However, England cricketer Moeen Ali was affected by this as his parents were in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, just an hour away from the site where Indian missiles struck.

“My parents were actually in Kashmir at the time… in Pakistan, only about an hour away from where the strikes happened probably. Maybe a bit farther. So it was a bit crazy and then they managed to get the only flights out actually on that day. I was glad they got out, but it was crazy," Ali said on Beard Before Wicket podcast.

At the time, Moeen was in India with his wife and children, playing for Kolkata Knight Riders. As tensions escalated, he made the decision to leave India even before the IPL was officially paused. 

“It was mad, obviously there were those attacks in Kashmir before everything really kicked off. Then within no time things just rapidly escalated and all of a sudden we’re in the middle. It felt like we’re in the middle of a war, but obviously we didn’t hear anything (like missiles striking). All of a sudden you’re just scrambling to get out of the country and just to make sure obviously your family’s fine," he added.

The England cricketer praised both the IPL organisers and KKR franchise for their support, but expressed his anguish at being caught in the middle of a conflict between two nations he feels share more in common than they often admit.

“They looked after us really well. They were like ‘Whatever you want, whatever you need, we’ll try and support you as much as we can’. Obviously having a Pakistani background and being in India while this is happening. I genuinely believe these are the same people, obviously just split by borders, exactly the same people, good people on both sides," Ali also said.

While IPL 2025 resumed, many foreign players like Moeen Ali have opted out of the tournament, citing travel concern and national duties.