In a bold overnight operation codenamed Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces launched coordinated missile strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), responding to the brutal Pahalgam attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists. The strike marks one of India’s most extensive military responses in recent years.
The offensive, conducted just after midnight while the country slept, involved all three branches of the armed forces. Rafale fighter jets equipped with SCALP cruise missiles and Hammer precision-guided bombs carried out the deep-penetration strikes. Key terror hubs hit included Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Muzaffarabad—areas known for hosting the leadership of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, the two terror outfits believed to be behind the Pahalgam massacre.
The first public indication of the operation came via a cryptic post by the Indian Army on social media platform X, stating: “Justice is served. Jai Hind!” Accompanying this was a video showing Indian forces in combat drills with the message: “Ready to strike, trained to win.”
Soon after, the Indian government issued a statement emphasizing the non-escalatory nature of the mission. “No Pakistani military infrastructure was targeted,” the statement said, stressing that the operation was “focused, measured, and carried out with restraint.”
The Indian embassy in Washington released a detailed note citing credible intelligence linking Pakistan-based terror networks to the Pahalgam incident. The move appeared aimed at securing international backing and shaping the global narrative, especially in Washington.
The targeted sites spanned a wide geographic area: Bahawalpur (JeM stronghold), Muridke (LeT headquarters), and other locations including Gulpur, Bhimber, Chak Amru, Bagh, Kotli, Sialkot, and Muzaffarabad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired several high-level meetings following the Pahalgam attack, closely monitored the operation through the night. He had earlier vowed to hold every terrorist and their enablers accountable.
In retaliation, Pakistan responded with artillery shelling along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch-Rajouri sector, killing three Indian civilians. This marked the 13th consecutive day of ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes, labeling them an “act of war” and warned of a “befitting response.” Pakistan claimed the Indian strikes resulted in the deaths of eight civilians and injured 33 others, including women and children.
Security was tightened across India in the wake of the operation. Flight services were suspended at several northern airports including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Dharamshala, and Amritsar. Schools and colleges in parts of Kashmir were also ordered shut for the day as a precautionary measure.
India has since briefed key global powers—namely the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia—on the rationale behind the strikes. Reacting to the development, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed regret over the escalation and noted he had foreseen “something like this happening.”
Operation Sindoor underscores a significant shift in India’s security posture, signaling that attacks on its soil will be met with swift and targeted retaliation.
