In a decisive military action, India launched coordinated precision strikes on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early Wednesday morning. The operation, codenamed “Operation Sindoor,” was conducted in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, including one Nepalese citizen, on April 22.
Strikes on Lashkar and Jaish Strongholds
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Armed Forces targeted locations associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Muridke, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. These regions are known for harboring terrorist camps and launchpads that have directed operations into India.
“The strikes were focused, measured, and non-escalatory. No Pakistani military facilities were targeted,” said the ministry in a statement issued at 1:44 am.
Intelligence sources confirmed that the strikes hit launchpads located 2 to 6 kilometers from the Line of Control (LoC), and camps situated 8 to 16 kilometers beyond. The name “Operation Sindoor” is a symbolic reference to the women who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam attack, including an Indian Navy officer on his honeymoon.
Diplomatic Communication and Global Reactions
Immediately after the operation, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval briefed his US counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior officials in the UK, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. A statement from the Indian Embassy in Washington said that the action was based on “credible leads, technical inputs, and testimony of survivors” linking the Pahalgam massacre to Pakistan-based terrorists.
At a press briefing, US President Donald Trump responded by calling the incident “a shame” and urged for a quick de-escalation. “They’ve been fighting for a long time… Now, I just hope it ends very quickly,” he said.
Pakistan Responds with Denial and Threats
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes, calling them “a cowardly attack” and an “act of war.” The Pakistani foreign ministry claimed that civilians, including women and children, were killed, and accused India of violating international law and airspace sovereignty.
Islamabad’s response included convening a meeting of its National Security Committee. Meanwhile, the country closed its airspace to Indian aircraft and suspended bilateral trade.
India, on its part, had already imposed punitive measures following the Pahalgam attack, including:
- Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty
- Closure of the Attari land border
- Withdrawal from ongoing diplomatic dialogues
National Political Consensus in Support of Armed Forces
The Indian government’s action received bipartisan support. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the strike with a post reading, “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” The Indian Army declared, “Justice is served.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “India has an unflinching national policy against all forms of terrorism emanating from Pakistan and PoK. We are proud of our armed forces and stand with the government.”
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh added, “This is a time for unity and solidarity. The Congress party supports the nation’s response to the Pahalgam attack in the supreme national interest.”
Interesting Read
Background: The Pahalgam Attack
The April 22 attack on pilgrims and civilians in Pahalgam is considered the worst terror strike in Jammu & Kashmir in nearly two decades, and the deadliest since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. India has firmly attributed the attack to Pakistan-based groups, despite Islamabad’s repeated denials.
