In a significant retaliatory move following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, including one Nepali national, India launched "Operation Sindoor" targeting terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). The operation, which involved coordinated action by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, struck nine terror infrastructure sites.
The Indian Ministry of Defence described Operation Sindoor as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory". The ministry emphasized that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted, highlighting India's intention to avoid unnecessary escalation. According to the Indian Army, the strikes were aimed at locations involved in planning and directing attacks against India. The government has called the action a clear message to those behind the Pahalgam attack while maintaining a calibrated approach to avoid unnecessary provocation.
The targeted locations included the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Muridke. Other locations reportedly struck include Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Gulpur, Bhimber, Bagh, Chak Amru, and Sialkot. These locations were selected based on actionable intelligence linking them to terrorist activities.
The strikes utilized sophisticated weapon systems, including loitering munitions. India has stated that it exercised considerable restraint in both the selection of targets and the method of execution.
Pakistan has acknowledged the strikes, confirming that the Indian Air Force targeted locations in Bahawalpur and Muridke. Pakistan's military has said that at least three people were killed and 12 were injured. Pakistan has also accused India of violating the ceasefire agreement with artillery fire across the Line of Control in Kashmir. Tensions remain high, and Pakistan has vowed to respond.
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, with the United Nations Secretary-General urging both countries to exercise maximum restraint. The United Nations Security Council held closed-door consultations to discuss the situation, with envoys calling for restraint and dialogue.
