Operation Sindoor
India (Commonwealth Union)_ In the early hours of Wednesday, the Indian armed forces launched a large-scale, coordinated military action named Operation Sindoor, targeting nine high-value terrorist hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This marked the most significant cross-border military exchange between India and Pakistan in decades. The operation was executed in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians, including many tourists, lost their lives. Intelligence linked the brutal attack to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), prompting a focused and retaliatory response by India.
India’s tri-service military operation, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force, used advanced precision munitions and extensive troop coordination. At 1:44 AM, the Indian Army released an official statement on X (formerly Twitter): “A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.”
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Pahalgam Attack
The trigger for the operation was the horrifying April 22 massacre in Pahalgam, where gunmen opened fire on civilians in a crowded market. Initial investigations revealed that the Resistance Front (TRF), a front for LeT, orchestrated the attack. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, communications intercepted post-attack confirmed coordination between Pakistani handlers and operatives on the ground in Kashmir. This deadly attack led to swift political and military resolve within India, culminating in the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor.
Targeting the Terrorist Bases
Unlike previous confrontations, India took exceptional care to limit the scope of the strikes strictly to terrorist infrastructure. The military clarified that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. “The action was focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” said a defense spokesperson. The strike emphasized surgical precision, using actionable intelligence to dismantle operational bases of terrorist groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). Satellite imagery confirmed extensive damage to the targeted facilities. These images, released hours after the strikes, showed smoking ruins of known training centers and logistics bases.
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List of 9 Targets Attacked
The following nine locations were identified and neutralized in the operation:
Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur (Pakistan) – Headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)
Markaz Taiba, Muridke (Pakistan) – Lashkar-e-Taiba’s main base and ideological center
Sarjal/Tehra Kalan Facility, Narowal (Pakistan) – JeM infiltration launch site
Mehmoona Joya Facility, Sialkot (Pakistan) – Hizbul Mujahideen stronghold
Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala, Bhimber (PoJK) – LeT-linked training ground
Markaz Abbas, Kotli (PoJK) – JeM’s bomber training base
Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli (PoJK) – Hizbul Mujahideen training area
Shawai Nallah Camp, Muzaffarabad (PoJK) – LeT operations camp
Markaz Syedna Bilal, Muzaffarabad (PoJK) – JeM facility with ties to Kashmir operations
These locations were not random targets but facilities with direct or indirect involvement in recent and historic terror attacks against India.
Bahawalpur Attack
The strike on Bahawalpur, the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, was among the most strategic. Located roughly 100 kilometers from the international border, it marked the first Indian strike on Pakistani Punjab since the 1971 war. The city, once a colonial trading post, has long served as a hub for radical Islamic organizations. The JeM base in Bahawalpur was heavily fortified and served as a command center for various terror operations. Indian Air Force precision strikes neutralized critical structures. Reports suggest that ten family members and associates of JeM chief Masood Azhar were killed in the strike.
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Damages in Pakistan
According to security sources, over 80 terrorists were eliminated in the early morning raids. The highest fatalities were reported in Bahawalpur and Muridke, with 25–30 terrorist deaths at each location. In Muridke, India targeted the Masjid wa Markaz Taiba, Lashkar-e-Taiba’s ideological training ground, where terrorists involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, including Ajmal Kasab and David Headley, were once trained. Col. Sofiya Qureshi, presenting drone footage and satellite visuals, confirmed the destruction of these sites. “This was not a symbolic retaliation—it was a deliberate dismantling of Pakistan’s terrorism apparatus,” she stated.
India’s War Against Terrorism
Wednesday’s operation was a clear signal that India’s posture on cross-border terrorism has shifted decisively. No longer relying solely on diplomatic channels, India has embraced a doctrine of direct and proportionate retaliation to acts of terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil. Foreign Secretary Misri revealed that diplomatic notes were immediately dispatched to key global allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. “India has exercised restraint but reserves the right to defend its citizens and sovereignty,” Misri emphasized. The government also moved to consolidate international support for its stance by providing evidence of the targeted camps’ links to global terrorist networks.
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Justice Served
India’s swift and precise retaliation has been lauded domestically as a fitting response to the Pahalgam massacre. Security experts and former military commanders have praised Operation Sindoor for its strategic clarity, executional precision, and calibrated restraint. The success of the mission was reflected in the absence of civilian casualties and the exclusive targeting of terrorist infrastructure. With over 80 terrorists neutralized, including operatives from JeM, LeT, and HM, the operation dealt a severe blow to the terror ecosystem thriving across the India-Pakistan border. Furthermore, India’s message is clear: acts of terror will be met with firm, proportionate, and decisive action. As the smoke clears over Bahawalpur and Muzaffarabad, the signal is loud and clear: justice will not be delayed, and terror will not be tolerated.
