Indians woke up to the news of a major military operation as India launched a coordinated strike on Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. In a swift 25-minute operation conducted between 1:05 AM and 1:30 AM, the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force jointly targeted terror camps in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sarjal, and Mehmoona Joya – all known strongholds of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizb-ul Mujahideen.

Operation Sindoor

According to reports, the name ‘Operation Sindoor’ draws inspiration from the red vermilion traditionally worn by Hindu women as a symbol of marriage. The operation pays tribute to the women who lost their husbands during the Pahalgam terror attack, where several men were killed before their loved ones’ eyes.

Indian Army’s post before Operation Sindoor

“Praharaya sannihitah; jayaya prashikshitah. Ready to strike, trained to win,” posted the Indian Army before the attack. They also attached a video that says, “I’ll find you through the dust and a storm. I’ll find you through these machines of carrying. The burden of my brothers and sisters’ pain. So, I will find you. You can hide in the distance between shadow and dust, but I’ll strike you down when you betray our trust. So, I will find you. That’s my job. That’s my mission. That’s my promise. I’ll find you.”

The clip, which is a little over a minute, shows the Indian Army conducting military drills. It ends with the message: “Always ready, always victorious”.  

Nine terror camps attacked: All about the locations

India has attacked nine terror camps in Pakistan. These are as follows:

1-  Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur. It is located around 100 km from the International Boundary (IB). It is the headquarters of the JeM. Reports say that the planning of 2019 Pulwama terror strike was done here. It also has houses of Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Masood Azhar, his brother Asghar and others. 

2- Markaz Taiba, Muridke. It is located 30 km from the border opposite Samba. It is a LeT camp where recruits reportedly receive training and a two-week-long indoctrination course. PTI reports that “at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI, all the 10 terrorists, including Kasab, were imparted with ‘Daura-e-Ribbat’ (intelligence training) at this facility”. 

3- Sarjal camp, JeM camp about 8 km from IB and opposite Samba-Kathua. It is the main launch pad and is operated from a Primary Health Centre. It is looked after by de facto chief Abdul Rauf Asgar, PTI reported. 

4- Mehmoona Joya, 15 km from IB, near Sialkot, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen training camp. It is headed by Irfan Tanda, who is responsible for carrying out attacks in Jammu. At this camp, not only are recruits trained, but they also receive weapons.

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5- Masjid Ahle Hadith, Barnala. It is 10 km from LoC opposite Rajouri and is LeT camp. 

6- Maskar Raheel Shahid, Hizb-ul Mujahideen camp. It is 15 km from LoC opposite Rajouri and is used to train recruits in Border Action Team (BAT) and sniping attacks. 

7- Masjid Abbas, Kotli. It is a LeT camp headed by Asgha’s close aide Qari Zarar, who is wanted by the NIA. The location is 15 km from LoC opposite Rajouri. 

8- Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad. It is the LeT camp 30 km inside POK, Tangdhar Sector. As per PTI, this camp was also used to train attackers of 26/11 and was started 25 years ago. 

9- Syedna Bilal Camp, a JeM launchpad in Muzaffarabad. PTI reported that this particular facility has the presence of the Special Services Group of the Pakistan army, which provides training to the JeM cadres at this facility.

‘Justice is served’: Indian Army after the targeted attack

After the targeted attack on nine locations, the Indian Army shared a post on social media. “Justice is served. Jai Hind,” the Indian Army wrote on X.  

Ministry of Defence releases statement

After the attack, the Ministry of Defence released a statement. It said that the Indian Armed Forces identified nine terror sites and carried out a “precision strike” at “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied J&K. 

“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military activities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and the method of execution,” the statement read.

‘Pak will wrap up things if India steps back’: Pakistan Defence Minister

Pakistan’s Defence Minister, in a TV interview, said that the country is willing to ease the current tensions with India if New Delhi chooses to de-escalate. His statement came shortly after India attacked terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “If we’re attacked, we’ll respond. If India backs down, we will definitely wrap up this tension,” he said.

‘10 family members, 4 close associates killed’: Masood Azhar

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar admitted that 10 members of his family and four close associates were killed in an Indian missile strike on the group’s headquarters in Bahawalpur.

Azhar, in a statement, identified the deceased as his elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, another niece, and five children from his extended family. The statement also confirmed the deaths of one of his key associates, his mother, and two other close companions, reports PTI. 

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PM Shehbaz Sharif puts Pakistan on ‘red alert’

Pakistan has been put on a ‘red alert’, with government hospitals across the country ready for any emergency; airspace for all domestic and international flights closed for at least 24 to 36 hours; all educational institutions in capital Islamabad and the Punjab province closed; and, all forces on stand by following the late night Indian air strikes on terror hideouts in different parts of the country, as per a report by IANS. He had called Indian strikes on Pakistan as an “act of war”. 

Flight operations suspended

As per a TOI report, over 200 flights have been cancelled after India attacked Pakistan. Pathankot (IXP), Jaisalmer (JSA), Shimla (SLV), Dharamshala (DHM), Leh (IXL), Jammu (IXJ), Srinagar (SXR), Amritsar (ATQ), Jodhpur (JDR), Jamnagar (JGA), Chandigarh (IXC), Delhi (DEL), Bhuj (BHJ) and Rajkot (RAJ). The Bhuj and Rajkot airports will remain closed for civilian aircraft till May 10, as per reports. 

World leaders react to India’s Operation Sindoor

US President was the first world leader to react to Operation Sindoor. “It’s a shame. We just heard about it, they’ve been fighting for a long time,” he told reporters, hoping for the escalation between India and Pakistan to end soon.

China urged both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, adding that the country “condemns all forms of terrorism”. Turkey has expressed outright solidarity with Pakistan against India’s Operation Sindoor. 

Israel supported “India’s right for self-defence”, adding that “Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent”. Russia, too, denounced “all forms of terrorism”. 

“The world cannot afford a military confrontation between Indian and Pakistan,” said the UN in an official statement. 

PM Modi government to convene all-party meeting on May 8 after Operation Sindoor today.