19 hours Ago
The Indian military operation targeted nine terror facilities tied to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen. Indian forces described the action as a precise and measured response focused solely on terror infrastructure, not on the Pakistani military.
Pakistan, however, claimed that 26 civilians were killed and 46 were injured in the Indian missile strikes. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the strike a "blatant act of war" and asserted that Pakistan reserves the right to respond firmly.
India countered by stating that the strikes were only aimed at terrorist hideouts. "Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory. The targets and methods were chosen carefully to avoid civilian and military casualties," said an official statement.
The Indian Army and Air Force coordinated a surprise night-time operation, hitting key terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK from where past attacks on India were planned. The Army also released a post-strike video on X (formerly Twitter), captioned "Justice is served".
Two of the most significant attacks were in Bahawalpur and Muridke, JeM and LeT strongholds respectively. In Bahawalpur, approximately 25–30 terrorists were killed at JeM's Markaz Subhan Allah. In Muridke, LeT's Masjid wa Markaz Taiba, often referred to as Pakistan's "terror nursery," was also struck with high casualties reported.
Initial intelligence estimates suggest a total of 80 to 90 terrorists were killed across the nine targeted locations, which included terror launchpads, training facilities, and radicalisation centres run by JeM and LeT.
Other major sites destroyed in the strike include the Sarjal camp at Tehra Kalan, Markaz Abbas in Kotli, and Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad, all linked to JeM. LeT facilities hit include Markaz Ahle Hadith in Barnala and Shwawai Nalla camp in Muzaffarabad. Hizbul Mujahideen's Makaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli and Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot were also among the key targets.
Out of the nine locations struck, four were located within Pakistan while five were in PoK. Sources also suggested that members of Pakistan's Army, ISI, and Special Services Group (SSG) may have been supporting the terror camps.
Following the strikes, Pakistan began heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian forces retaliated, and officials confirmed that three Indian citizens lost their lives due to Pakistani shelling.
Why It's Called Operation Sindoor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally named the operation "Sindoor" in remembrance of the women widowed by the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Sindoor, the red powder traditionally worn by Hindu married women, was chosen as a symbol of loss, determination, and national resolve.
According to senior government sources, the Prime Minister was deeply affected by the stories of the families torn apart by the terror attack. He made it clear in recent high-level meetings that India's response must reflect the emotional and human cost of terrorism.
Operation Sindoor also marked a rare joint action involving all three military branches – the Army, Navy, and Air Force – which together launched a multi-domain offensive. Using both land and sea-based systems, the operation destroyed terror launchpads and command centres across Pakistan and PoK.
The operation stands as one of India's most significant cross-border military actions since the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. According to the defence ministry's official statement released at 1:44 am, the strikes were "targeted and precise" and carried out two weeks after the terror massacre in Pahalgam.
India's message was clear: any attack on Indian civilians will be met with a strong, focused, and strategic military response.
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