Operation Sindoor: How India Targeted 9 Terror Camps in Pakistan and PoK

Background: The Pahalgam Attack and Escalation On April 22, 2025, terrorists attacked a tourist convoy in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, killing 26 civilians. The attack was traced to terror groups operating from Pakistan and PoK, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen. The scale and brutality of this attack triggered nationwide outrage and prompted India to take unprecedented military action. Planning and Objectives of Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor was meticulously planned with clear objectives: Neutralize key terror launchpads and training camps in Pakistan and PoK. Eliminate high-value terrorist leaders responsible for attacks on Indian soil. Send a deterrent message to both terrorist groups and their state sponsors. Establish a new red line: Any act of terror against India would invite direct, visible, and proportionate retaliation. The operation was coordinated by the Indian Army, Air Force, and intelligence agencies, leveraging advanced surveillance and real-time intelligence to ensure precision and minimize collateral damage. The Nine Targeted Terror Camps: Locations and Significance India’s strikes focused on nine high-value terror facilities-four in Pakistan’s mainland and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These sites were identified as operational centers for LeT, JeM, and Hizbul Mujahideen, and played key roles in planning and executing attacks against India. List of Targeted Terror Camps Location (Country/Region) Terror Group(s) Strategic Importance Bahawalpur (Pakistan) Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) JeM’s primary command and training hub Muridke (Pakistan) Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) LeT’s headquarters, major training center Sarjal (Pakistan) Multiple Operational and training facility Mehmoona Joya (Pakistan) Multiple Terrorist training site Muzaffarabad (PoK) LeT, JeM, Hizbul Launchpad for cross-border infiltration Kotli (PoK) LeT, JeM, Hizbul Major camp for training and operations Gulpur (PoK) LeT, JeM, Hizbul Launchpad and logistics hub Barnala (PoK) LeT, JeM, Hizbul Training and indoctrination center Bhimber/Abbas (PoK) LeT, JeM, Hizbul Forward operating base These camps were selected for their role in recent attacks, including the Pahalgam massacre, Pulwama bombing, and the IC-814 hijacking. Execution: Precision Strikes and Military Technology The strikes began in the early hours of May 7, 2025. The Indian Air Force deployed Rafale jets armed with precision-guided missiles, while drones and satellite surveillance ensured real-time target acquisition and post-strike assessment. Key military actions included: Strikes on Bahawalpur and Muridke, deep inside Pakistan’s Punjab province-areas previously considered untouchable. Targeting of military installations being used as terror shelters, such as Malir Cantonment near Karachi and radar sites in Lahore and Gujranwala. Use of Israeli-made HARPY drones to neutralize air defense systems. Strict avoidance of civilian and purely military targets, focusing exclusively on terrorist infrastructure. The operation was described as “measured and calibrated,” aiming for maximum impact with minimal escalation. Pakistan’s Response and Losses Pakistan initially denied the scale of the damage, later admitting to “minor damage” to aircraft and military assets. The strikes triggered artillery and small arms exchanges along the Line of Control (LoC). According to Indian military briefings, the Pakistan Army lost between 35 and 40 personnel in the ensuing clashes from May 7 to May 10. Pakistan’s retaliatory actions included drone and aircraft incursions into Indian airspace and attacks on Indian civilian and religious sites, which were largely repelled by India’s multi-layered air defense system. India’s New Counterterrorism Doctrine Operation Sindoor marked a strategic shift in India’s approach: “Head of the Snake” Doctrine: Instead of targeting only border launchpads, India struck at the command and control centers deep inside Pakistan, signaling that no location is beyond reach. No Distinction Between Terrorists and Sponsors: By targeting infrastructure in Pakistan’s heartland, India discarded the old distinction between terrorists and their state sponsors, treating both as legitimate targets. Clear Red Line: State-sponsored terrorism will invite targeted, visible, and proportional retaliation. Humanitarian and Civilian Impact India emphasized that its strikes were focused, measured, and non-escalatory, with significant restraint exercised in target selection and execution to avoid civilian casualties. Pakistan reported civilian casualties, while India insisted its actions were against terrorist infrastructure alone. Ceasefire, Aftermath, and Strategic Implications A ceasefire was brokered after over 100 hours of hostilities. The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army confirmed that Operation Sindoor had achieved its objectives: over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets like Yusuf Azhar and Abdul Malik Rauf, were eliminated, and major terror infrastructures were destroyed. The operation established a new red line in India’s counterterrorism policy and exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s military and terror support networks. Conclusion Operation Sindoor stands as a defining moment in India’s fight against terrorism. By targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and PoK with precision and restraint, India demonstrated its resolve, technological prowess, and willingness to escalate when provoked. The operation has set a new precedent for deterrence, signaling that any future act of terror against India will be met with swift and decisive action-no matter where the perpetrators hide. Operation Sindoor is not just a military operation-it is a message to the world and to those who threaten India’s peace: Terror will not go unpunished.