National: In a swift and decisive action, the Indian Army executed a series of targeted strikes on multiple terror camps situated across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) during the early hours of May 7th.
The operation, codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’, successfully neutralised over 80 terrorists affiliated with prominent banned organisations including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen.
The military action was a direct response to the devastating terror attack that occurred in Pahalgam on April 22nd, which tragically claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians. Driven by the need for retribution and the imperative to dismantle terror infrastructure, the Indian Army meticulously planned and executed strikes on nine key facilities known to be associated with these extremist groups.
According to high-ranking officials, the precision strikes focused on critical terror hubs in Bahawalpur and Muridke, identified as strongholds of JeM and LeT respectively. Initial assessments indicate that approximately 25 to 30 militants were eliminated at each of these locations. A significant target was Masjid wa Markaz Taiba in Muridke, the ideological epicentre of LeT and infamously referred to as Pakistan’s “terror nursery.”
Preliminary intelligence reports suggest that between 80 and 90 terrorists were neutralised in total across the targeted sites. These locations included not only training camps but also launch pads and radicalisation centres actively used by the UN-designated terror outfits. Following the successful operation, the Indian Army conveyed a clear message by posting a video on X with the assertive caption, “Justice is served.”
In stark contrast, Pakistan vehemently condemned the cross-border action, alleging that the strikes resulted in the deaths of eight civilians and denouncing the operation as a “blatant act of war.” However, India has maintained that the strikes were solely aimed at terrorist infrastructure and were carried out with utmost precision to minimise collateral damage.
Further details reveal that other JeM-linked locations targeted in the operation included Sarjal at Tehra Kalan, Markaz Abbas in Kotli, and the Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad. Similarly, facilities associated with LeT that were struck included Markaz Ahle Hadith in Barnala and the Shwawai Nalla camp in Muzaffarabad. Additionally, Hizbul Mujahideen training centres at Makaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli and Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot were also among the targets.
Of the nine locations targeted in ‘Operation Sindoor’, four were situated within Pakistan, while the remaining five were located in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The successful execution of these simultaneous strikes underscores India’s commitment to combating cross-border terrorism and ensuring the security of its citizens.
In an immediate aftermath, Pakistani forces initiated heavy cross-border shelling along the Line of Control and the international border in Jammu and Kashmir. Tragically, Indian officials have confirmed that this retaliatory shelling resulted in the deaths of three civilians on the Indian side, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
Read More: Political Firestorm Erupts as Sarma Accuses Gogoi’s Wife of Pakistan Ties