New Delhi / Islamabad: In a bold and meticulously coordinated military action, India carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’, a high-impact airstrike mission deep inside Pakistani territory, demolishing nine major terrorist installations of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The pre-dawn operation was launched after intelligence confirmed continued terror planning against India from camps located in Punjab province, Pakistan. Among the targets were camps responsible for the Pulwama, Pathankot, and Mumbai 26/11 attacks.
Key Targets Neutralized in Operation Sindoor
- Markaz Subhan Allah (Bahawalpur): JeM’s central HQ, training site for Pulwama suicide bombers.
- Sarjal Launchpad (Narowal): Just 6 km from the Indian border, used for drone and tunnel-based infiltration.
- Markaz Taiba (Muridke): LeT’s 82-acre main campus where Ajmal Kasab was radicalized.
- Lamba Indoctrination Facility: Trained fidayeen squads, including Masood Azhar’s relatives.
- Khajuwala Arms Route: Used for smuggling NATO weapons into Pakistan from Afghanistan.
- Encrypted Command Centre: Controlled Kashmir operations.
- Shakargarh Drone Base: Used to drop weapons across LoC via drones.
- Usman-o-Ali Complex: Hosted over 600 trained JeM militants.
- LeT Intelligence Wing (‘Ribbat’): Training base for surveillance and cyber ops.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Condemns Strike
Following the operation, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labeled India’s actions an “act of war,” stating:
“Pakistan has every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India, and a forceful response is being given.”
Pakistan claimed eight civilian deaths, including one child, and alleged the downing of three Indian jets — a claim New Delhi has not acknowledged.
International Response: U.S. and UN Urge Restraint
The strike has heightened diplomatic tensions globally. U.S. President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General António Guterres both issued statements urging restraint and dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have further deteriorated, with visa services suspended and military deployments reportedly increasing across the Line of Control.
India’s Stand: Zero Tolerance Toward Terror Havens
Defending the action, Indian officials emphasized that Operation Sindoor was a targeted and defensive measure aimed at destroying verified terror camps. A senior Indian defense official said:
“This was a necessary pre-emptive action. If Pakistan won’t dismantle terror safe havens, India will.”
Experts call this a strategic escalation that reinforces India’s evolving doctrine of decisive cross-border counterterrorism.
This is a developing story. Further details will follow as confirmations emerge.
