New Delhi: The Indian government on Wednesday confirmed the successful execution of ‘Operation Sindoor’, a tri-service precision military strike targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation, which was a response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, resulted in the deaths of at least 70 terrorists and left over 60 others injured, official sources said.
The operation commenced at 1:05 am on May 6 and lasted just 25 minutes, during which 24 stand-off munitions—including HAMMER bombs and SCALP missiles—were deployed to strike four locations in Pakistan and five in PoK. These attacks, executed with precision to avoid detection and maximise impact, targeted terror infrastructure linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen.
“This was a measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible military response to continued support for cross-border terrorism by Pakistan,” said a senior government official during a press briefing. The operation, described as India’s first tri-service military mission since the 1971 war, was aimed at dismantling active terror networks and disrupting their operational capacity.
The nine sites were identified through months of credible intelligence, including satellite surveillance, intercepted communications, and human intelligence. Among the key locations targeted were:
Muridke, near Lahore – a LeT base linked to 26/11 attackers Ajmal Kasab and David Headley.
Bahawalpur, in Pakistan’s Punjab province – nerve centre of Jaish-e-Mohammed, responsible for the Pulwama (2019), Uri (2016), and Parliament (2001) attacks.
Sawai Nala in Muzaffarabad – a known Lashkar training camp.
Syedna Bilal Camp in PoK – affiliated with both LeT and JeM.
Gulpur – linked to recent infiltrations and targeted civilian killings in Rajouri and Poonch sectors.
Sarjal, Barnala, and Mehmoona near Sialkot – camps used for cross-border infiltration and Hizbul Mujahideen operations.
Speaking at the briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh emphasized the direct role of these camps in multiple attacks on Indian soil, noting that the selection of targets was done meticulously to minimise civilian casualties and avoid damage to public infrastructure.
“Operation Sindoor is a demonstration of India’s right to self-defence and pre-emptive action against cross-border terrorism,” Wing Commander Singh stated. “The goal was to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families.”
Officials reiterated that the strikes were carried out with an aim to distinguish counter-terror operations from full-scale military aggression, underlining India’s commitment to responsible use of military power. The government also confirmed the potential for further action, depending on Pakistan’s response.
This operation follows the barbaric Pahalgam attack, in which 26 individuals, including one Nepali citizen, were killed—many with headshots executed in front of family members, said Deputy NSA Vikram Misri. He noted the attack was intended to disrupt peace and stability in post-Article 370 Jammu and Kashmir.
India has consistently accused Pakistan of sheltering and supporting terror groups operating from its territory, a claim reiterated in Wednesday’s detailed briefing.
