Operation Sindoor : India Attacks Pakistan

India executed Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, launching focused air and missile strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The precision operation targeted Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Muridke headquarters, Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Bahawalpur base, and terror sites in Kotli and Muzaffarabad, crippling key infrastructure responsible for cross-border attacks, including the recent Pahalgam massacre. India’s Defence Ministry emphasized the strikes were non-escalatory and avoided Pakistani military facilities, demonstrating measured retaliation and a commitment to holding terror groups accountable while avoiding wider conflict escalation

India Attacks Pakistan Terror Camps: Latest Developments

On May 7, 2025, at approximately 2:00 AM IST, India executed “Operation Sindoor,” a series of precision air and missile strikes targeting nine terror-linked sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The operation was a direct retaliation for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Anantnag district, which claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali citizen. The attack was initially claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), though the claim was later retracted.

Key Details of the Strikes

• Targets: The Indian Armed Forces struck nine terrorist infrastructure sites, deliberately avoiding Pakistani military installations to minimize escalation risks. The targets included:
  • Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) strongholds in Muridke and Rawalkot.
  • Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) facilities in Bahawalpur.
  • Terror camps in Kotli and Muzaffarabad in PoJK.
• Execution: The strikes utilized advanced precision-guided munitions and air-launched missiles, with reports indicating the involvement of Indian Air Force assets, including Mirage 2000 jets and Indigenous missile systems. The Indian Ministry of Defence described the operation as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” emphasizing surgical precision to limit collateral damage.
• Objective: The operation aimed to dismantle terrorist infrastructure linked to the Pahalgam attack and send a clear message to Pakistan about India’s resolve to counter cross-border terrorism. The Ministry of Defence stated, “The strikes were designed to hold those responsible for the Pahalgam attack accountable while demonstrating India’s commitment to restraint.”

Details of the Nine Terror Camps Targeted by India

India’s Operation Sindoor, conducted in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, targeted nine terror-linked sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK). These sites were selected based on credible intelligence linking them to the planning and execution of cross-border terror attacks, particularly the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack. Key details include:

• Total Sites Targeted: Nine locations identified as terrorist infrastructure, chosen for their direct involvement in orchestrating attacks against India.
• Geographical Spread: The strikes spanned mainland Pakistan and PoJK, targeting both urban and remote terror strongholds.
• Major Groups Targeted:
  • The headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Muridke, Punjab province, Pakistan, a key operational and training hub.
  • The headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Bahawalpur, Punjab province, Pakistan, known for its role in recruiting and arming militants.
  • Terror camps in Kotli and Muzaffarabad in PoJK, used as staging grounds for infiltrating militants into Jammu and Kashmir.
• Nature of the Strikes: The operation employed advanced weaponry, including beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles, standoff cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions, ensuring minimal collateral damage. No Pakistani military facilities were targeted, underscoring the operation’s non-escalatory intent.
• Operational Intent: The targets were pinpointed to disrupt the terror ecosystem responsible for the Pahalgam attack, with the Indian Ministry of Defence emphasizing that the strikes were a proportionate response to Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism.

Latest Developments (As of May 7, 2025, 4:17 AM IST)

• Indian Government’s Response: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement at 3:30 AM IST, confirming the success of Operation Sindoor and reiterating that the strikes were a “legitimate act of self-defense” under Article 51 of the UN Charter. A detailed briefing is scheduled for later today, May 7, at 10:00 AM IST, where the Ministry of Defence and Indian Army are expected to release further details, including satellite imagery and intelligence reports linking the targeted sites to terrorist activities.
• Pakistan’s Reaction: Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) condemned the strikes as a “violation of sovereignty” and claimed that its air defense systems intercepted “some” of the incoming missiles, though no evidence has been provided. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Indian chargé d’affaires in Islamabad to lodge a formal protest and warned of “proportionate retaliation.” Posts on X reflect Pakistani claims that their air defenses were overwhelmed, with some alleging that ammunition shortages, possibly due to prior exports to Ukraine, limited their response.
• International Reactions:
  • United States: The U.S. State Department, through a statement at 3:45 AM IST, urged both nations to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated U.S. support for India’s fight against terrorism but called for dialogue to prevent a broader conflict.
  • United Nations: UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the strikes and renewed his offer for mediation, stating, “A military confrontation between India and Pakistan would be catastrophic for the region and beyond.”
  • China: China, a close ally of Pakistan, issued a cautious statement calling for “all parties to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity” without directly naming India. Analysts suggest China’s response is tempered due to its economic ties with India.
• Ground Situation: Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) have been placed on high alert, with reports of increased troop movements in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has also reinforced its positions along the LoC, raising fears of potential skirmishes. No immediate reports of civilian casualties have emerged from the strike zones, though Pakistani media claims “minimal damage” to infrastructure in PoJK.
• Domestic Sentiment in India: Posts on X indicate strong public support for Operation Sindoor, with hashtags like #IndiaFightsBack and #PahalgamAvenged trending. Political leaders across parties, including Congress and AAP, have expressed solidarity with the government’s actions, though some opposition figures have called for transparency regarding intelligence failures that allowed the Pahalgam attack.

Quotes

A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.
Altogether, nine (9) sites have been targeted.
Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.
These steps come in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered. We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable.
There will be detailed briefing on ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, later today. India press release 

Twitter/X

India has launched #OperationSindoor, a precise and restrained response to the barbaric #PahalgamTerrorAttack that claimed 26 lives, including one Nepali citizen. Focused strikes were carried out on nine #terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and…

— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 6, 2025

Background Context

The Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, was one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Indian authorities linked the attack to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), citing digital traces to safe houses in Muzaffarabad and Karachi. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) identified one of the attackers, Hashim Musa, as a former Pakistani paramilitary officer who joined LeT. Tensions escalated post-attack, with India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and imposing trade and airspace restrictions. Pakistan retaliated by suspending the Shimla Agreement and closing its airspace to Indian flights.

Previous Indian retaliatory strikes, such as the 2016 Uri surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrike, set a precedent for Operation Sindoor. However, this operation is notable for its scale (nine simultaneous targets) and the use of advanced indigenous weaponry, signaling India’s growing military capabilities.

Analysis and Potential Implications

• Escalation Risks: While India emphasized the non-escalatory nature of the strikes, Pakistan’s rhetoric suggests a potential for retaliatory actions, possibly targeting Indian assets in Kashmir or through asymmetric warfare. The nuclear capabilities of both nations heighten global concerns, with analysts warning that miscalculations could lead to a broader conflict.
• Diplomatic Maneuvering: India is actively lobbying at the UN Security Council to legitimize its actions, citing forensic evidence linking the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan. Pakistan, a non-permanent UNSC member, is countering with calls for an independent investigation, supported by China. The UNSC’s closed-door consultations on May 6 failed to produce a consensus, indicating a diplomatic stalemate.
• Domestic Political Impact: In India, Operation Sindoor will likely bolster Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image as a strong leader ahead of upcoming state elections. However, opposition parties may press for accountability over intelligence lapses that failed to prevent the Pahalgam attack.
• Regional Stability: The strikes have heightened fears of instability in South Asia, with ripple effects on Afghanistan, where Pakistan-based terror groups like LeT have influence. The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty remains a flashpoint, with Pakistan warning that any disruption to water flows could be treated as an “act of war.”

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