In response to the deadly April 22nd attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, India launched "Operation Sindoor" in the early hours of May 7, 2025. The operation targeted nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, aiming to dismantle terrorist infrastructure. India claims the strikes were a measured response, focused on preventing further attacks and avoiding escalation.

The Indian Armed Forces, in a coordinated effort, carried out "high-precision missile strikes" on the identified targets. The Ministry of Defence stated that the actions were "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," with no Pakistani military facilities targeted. According to Indian officials, the strikes were executed from within Indian airspace, demonstrating restraint in both targeting and execution.

The Nine Targeted Locations and Their Significance The nine terror facilities that India struck are allegedly linked to various banned outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). These groups have been designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations Security Council.

The targeted locations, as identified by Indian officials, include:

1. Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur (Pakistan): This served as the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a key center for recruitment, training, and indoctrination. JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar claimed that 10 members of his family and four of his aides were killed in the strikes.
2. Markaz Taiba, Muridke (Pakistan): This is the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and a major training center. Key perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, including Ajmal Kasab, were allegedly trained at this camp. The seminary has had links to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and has been connected to several major terror attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
3. Sarjal, Tehra Kalan (Sialkot, Pakistan): This JeM camp served as a training facility for terrorists, including those involved in the killing of four J&K police personnel in March 2025.
4. Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot (Pakistan): This was a major Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) camp and a key control center for terrorism in the Kathua-Jammu region. India claims the Pathankot air force base attack was planned and carried out from this location.
5. Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala (Bhimber, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir): This LeT facility was a crucial hub for weapons handling, explosives training, and jungle survival skills.
6. Markaz Abbas, Kotli (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir): This LeT camp specialized in training 'fidayeen' suicide attackers and had the capacity to train approximately 15 terrorists at a time.
7. Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir): This was identified as a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) camp.
8. Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir): This LeT training facility was linked to attacks in Sonamarg and Gulmarg in 2024, as well as the recent Pahalgam attack. Terrorists involved in the October 20, 2024 attack in Sonmarg, October 24, 2024 attack in Gulmarg, April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam were all trained here.
9. Syedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir): This JeM camp served as a staging area, weapons depot, explosives storage, and jungle survival training center.

India's Rationale and Pakistan's Response India has long accused Pakistan of supporting and harboring terrorist groups operating against it. Operation Sindoor is presented as a direct response to Pakistan's alleged failure to act against these groups. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the strikes were aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure and preventing further attacks.

Pakistan, however, has denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack and has condemned the Indian strikes as an "unprovoked attack, targeting innocent people". Pakistan's military claims that the strikes resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, and that mosques and residential areas were targeted.

Aftermath and International Reactions Following the strikes, Pakistan placed its air force jets on high alert and warned that it would respond at a time and place of its choosing. Both countries have reportedly scaled back diplomatic ties, expelling each other's citizens. The strikes have led to heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, raising concerns about potential escalation.

Several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, were briefed by India after the strikes. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak supported India's right to act against terrorism, stating that no country should be forced to accept terrorist attacks originating from another nation's territory.