In response to the April 22nd terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including one Nepali citizen and 25 Indians, the Indian armed forces launched "Operation Sindoor" in the early hours of Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The operation involved 24 precision missile strikes on nine terror targets located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The targeted locations included Muridke and Bahawalpur, known strongholds of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror groups, respectively.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK that were being used to plan and execute attacks against India. According to sources, the operation resulted in over 70 terrorists killed and more than 60 wounded, significantly degrading the operational capabilities of these terror outfits.
One of the key targets of Operation Sindoor was Bahawalpur, a city in Pakistan's Punjab province and the headquarters of the JeM. This marked the first time India has struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan's Punjab. The strikes aimed to send a clear message that terrorists operating within Pakistan are no longer safe. The targeted complex, Markaz Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, served as a recruitment, training, and indoctrination center for JeM. Masood Azhar, the chief of JeM, reportedly lived there under state protection and delivered anti-India speeches from the mosque.
During the strikes on Bahawalpur, ten family members of Masood Azhar were killed, along with four of his close associates. Azhar himself confirmed the deaths in a statement, expressing grief but vowing to continue attacks against India. Those killed included Azhar's elder sister, her husband, a nephew and his wife, a niece, and five children from the extended family.
Another significant target was Muridke, the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The Muridke Markaz has served as a terror nursery, grooming children and youths for attacks in India. Established in 1988 by Hafiz Saeed, the complex functions as a training ground, indoctrination center, and logistical base. It has also been linked to Osama bin Laden and implicated in major terror attacks, including the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
The Indian Army's official handle on X, formerly Twitter, declared that "Justice is served" following the strikes, using the hashtag #PahalgamTerrorAttack. The operation was conducted using precision missiles, with careful selection of warheads to minimize collateral damage. The Ministry of Defence emphasized that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted and that the actions were focused, measured, and non-escalatory.
While India maintained that the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure, Pakistani officials claimed that civilian areas were hit, resulting in casualties. Pakistan's military reported that at least 26 people were killed and 46 injured in the strikes. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as an act of war and asserted Pakistan's right to respond.
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, India closed approximately 25 flight routes that allow planes to enter Pakistan through Indian airspace. Many foreign airlines have also been avoiding Pakistani airspace due to rising tensions.
