In a notable military operation dubbed “Operation Sindoor,” the Indian Army carried out targeted strikes on various terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) early Wednesday. This operation focused on nine significant sites associated with terrorist groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), all while maintaining respect for Pakistani airspace.
These strikes were a direct response to the tragic killing of 25 male tourists and a local guide in Kashmir’s Pahalgam region on April 22, where victims were murdered in front of their families. The operation took aim at key terrorist installations, including JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur and LeT’s base in Muridke, both situated in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
Intelligence sources indicated that these facilities were deceptively hidden as health centers to avoid detection and bypass international sanctions, particularly from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). A spokesperson for the Pakistani military confirmed the strikes on Bahawalpur and Muridke during an interview with the BBC.
The Muridke facility, located about 30 kilometers from Lahore, was hit four times in quick succession. This site has historical importance as it served as a training ground for terrorists involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, notably including Ajmal Kasab. Known as Markaz Taiba, it has been operational since 1990, training around 1,000 recruits simultaneously through various indoctrination programs.
Bahawalpur, another primary target, became the nerve center for JeM after the release of Masood Azhar during the 1999 IC-814 hijacking incident. The Markaz Subhanallah facility has been linked to several attacks on India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot airbase strike, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.
Additional important targets included:
– JeM’s Sarjal Tehra Kalan camp in Narowal, posing as a primary health center
– Markaz Abbas in Kotli and Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad
– LeT’s Markaz Ahle Hadith at Barnala and Shwawai Nalla camp
– Hizbul Mujahideen’s facilities at Markaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli and Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot
The Shawai Nallah camp in Muzaffarabad, accommodating up to 250 terrorists, has been a crucial training site for LeT operatives. This camp has often been visited by officials from the Pakistani military and ISI since its establishment in 2000. Meanwhile, the Markaz Abbas camp in Kotli, led by wanted terrorist Qari Zarar, has played a significant role in planning attacks and facilitating terrorist infiltration through the Poonch and Rajouri sectors.
The Indian government emphasized that the operation was “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” purposely avoiding Pakistani military installations. The strikes specifically targeted terrorist infrastructure involved in planning and executing attacks against India, demonstrating a strategic approach in target selection and execution.
Following the strikes, the Indian Army released footage showcasing the attacks on terror camps. Additionally, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Chief Ministers and government officials from several states, including representatives from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
In related developments, the Indian Air Force announced plans for a major air exercise along the India-Pakistan border, starting May 7. This exercise will feature frontline aircraft such as Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Sukhoi-30s, aimed at testing air raid warning systems, communication links, control room functionality, and training civilians in civil defense measures.
