In a swift and calibrated military operation named Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces carried out coordinated strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early Wednesday morning. The operation was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including one Nepali national. According to Defence Ministry officials, the operation was designed to be “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with targets limited strictly to terror infrastructure, avoiding any Pakistani military installations.
The Indian Air Force conducted strikes on four locations in Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Sialkot, as well as five key terror hubs in PoK. These sites were believed to be strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), both linked to past attacks on Indian soil. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, briefing the media alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, confirmed that training camps where terrorists like Ajmal Kasab and David Headley once trained were among the sites destroyed. “Operation Sindoor was launched to bring justice to victims of the Pahalgam attack,” Qureshi stated.
Footage released by the Indian Army showed large-scale destruction with precision strikes on targets such as the Markaz Subhan Allah base in Bahawalpur and the Gulpur camp in Kotli, which was just 30 kilometers from the Line of Control (LoC). Social media was flooded with videos showing explosions and plumes of smoke rising from the targeted areas. According to JeM chief Masood Azhar, ten members of his family and four close associates were killed in the Bahawalpur strike.
As India carried out the operation, Pakistan retaliated with artillery shelling across the LoC, leading to civilian casualties. Narinder Singh, President of the District Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee in Poonch, confirmed that a shell hit Gurudwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, resulting in minor damage. Twelve civilians were reported killed in the district due to the cross-border shelling. In response, Indian Army units were given operational freedom to issue a strong counter if needed.
The global diplomatic response has been cautious. China, Qatar, and Azerbaijan have called for restraint, while India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar briefed counterparts in Japan, France, Germany, and the U.S., emphasizing that the action was “measured and restrained.” National Security Advisor Ajit Doval reinforced this stance, saying India had no intention to escalate but was prepared to retaliate if provoked further.
Back home, political and public sentiment has largely rallied behind the military. Leaders across the spectrum, from Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, expressed support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly hailed the strikes as a “moment of pride” during a cabinet meeting. Meanwhile, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, public figures like cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, and families of the Pahalgam victims expressed their approval of the operation, viewing it as a justified and focused response to terrorism.
Operation Sindoor has also impacted civilian life and infrastructure. Delhi airport issued travel advisories due to airspace disruptions, and multiple airports in northern India saw cancellations. Uttar Pradesh declared a red alert, bolstering coordination with defense forces.
As Foreign Secretary Misri stated during the press briefing, intelligence reports had suggested imminent attacks on Indian soil. “Thus, the need was both to deter and prevent. Our actions were proportionate and responsible, aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure,” he concluded.
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