Operation Sindoor: The Complete Story, From Execution to Global Reactions
- MGMMTeam
- 4 hours ago
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In a swift and highly coordinated 25-minute operation, India conducted its most extensive cross-border strikes since the Balakot attack, targeting nine terror sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early Wednesday, according to military officials.
Named Operation Sindoor, the strikes utilized air, naval, and ground forces and were carried out under the cover of darkness in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives.
Over 80 terrorists affiliated with banned groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen were eliminated in the precision strikes, senior sources reported. The government stated the operation was carefully calibrated, with targets chosen based on reliable intelligence.
Why did India initiate Operation Sindoor within Pakistan on May 7, 2025?
On April 22, 2025, a terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 Indian Hindu tourists and injuries to 17 others. The assailants, dressed in military-style uniforms and armed with M4 carbines and AK-47 rifles, targeted male tourists after separating them from women and children. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. Sheikh Sajjad Gul, the head of TRF, was identified as the mastermind behind the attack.
The attack has been described as one of the most severe civilian massacres in the region in recent years, undermining claims of normalcy in Kashmir. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities seeking to apprehend the perpetrators.
Nine potential terror targets
India selected nine terror targets for an operation, four of which were located in Pakistan and the remaining five in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
According to sources, the Indian armed forces successfully struck these nine targets—four in Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Sialkot, and five in PoJK.
The operation was a coordinated effort between the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, involving the deployment of various assets and personnel.
Profile of the Nine Targets Attacked by India
Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur This facility, operating since 2015, is the central hub for training and indoctrination for JeM. It acts as the organization's operational headquarters and is associated with planning major operations, including the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019. The site houses the residences of key JeM figures, including its leader Maulana Masood Azhar, de facto chief Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar, and their families. Masood Azhar has delivered numerous anti-India speeches at this location, urging young people to join the jihad. JeM conducts various training sessions here, including arms training, physical conditioning, and religious education.
Markaz Taiba, Muridke Founded in 2000 in Nangal Sahdan, Muridke (Sheikhupura, Punjab), Markaz Taiba serves as the primary training center for LeT. It provides both arms training and religious indoctrination to recruits, both from within Pakistan and abroad. The center enrolls approximately 1,000 students each year in various training programs. It is reported that Osama bin Laden financed the construction of a mosque and guesthouse on the premises. This facility was where the 26/11 Mumbai attackers, including Ajmal Kasab, received their training and was also frequented by conspirators like David Headley and Tahawwur Rana.
Sarjal / Tehra Kalan Located in Shakargarh Tehsil, Narowal District (Punjab, Pakistan), this JeM facility operates from a PHC in the village of Tehra Kalan. Situated about 6 km from the International Border near the Samba sector in Jammu and Kashmir, it is involved in tunnel construction, drone operations, and the smuggling of arms and narcotics. Senior JeM leaders, including Mohammad Adnan Ali (@Doctor) and Kashif Jan, are often present at this site, which is overseen by Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar.
Mehmoona Joya Facility, Sialkot This Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) facility is located within the Bhutta Kotli Government BHU in Head Marala, Sialkot District. It is used for infiltrating militants into Jammu. Cadres are trained here in weapon handling and terrorist tactics. The facility is run by Mohammad Irfan Khan (@Irfan Tanda), who has been linked to multiple attacks in the Jammu region. At any given time, 20–25 militants are stationed here.
Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala, Bhimber Situated on Kote Jamel Road, just outside Barnala, this LeT facility is used for infiltrating operatives and weapons into the Poonch–Rajouri–Reasi sector. It can accommodate between 100 and 150 militants and acts as a staging ground for operations. LeT operatives such as Qasim Gujjar (@Mahrore), Qasim Khanda, and Anas Jarar operate from here, under the supervision of senior commanders.
Markaz Abbas, Kotli Also known as Markaz Saidna Hazrat Abbas Bin Abdul Mutalib, this JeM facility is led by Hafiz Abdul Shakoor (@Qari Zarrar), a close associate of Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar and a member of the JeM shura. The facility can house between 100 and 125 operatives and serves as a center for planning and launching infiltration missions into the Poonch–Rajouri sector. Qari Zarrar is wanted by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli An HM facility that can house 150–200 militants, this camp specializes in arms training, sniping, BAT (border action team) operations, and survival skills in mountainous terrain. It is one of the oldest operational centers of HM in PoJK.
Shawai Nallah Camp, Muzaffarabad Also known as Bait-ul-Mujahideen, this LeT camp located near the Chelabandi Bridge on the Muzaffarabad–Neelum Road has been active since the early 2000s. It trains recruits in religious indoctrination, physical conditioning, GPS usage, and weaponry. The 26/11 attackers trained here, and the facility can accommodate 200–250 militants. It serves as a launch site for operations targeting North Kashmir.
Markaz Syedna Bilal Situated opposite the Red Fort in Muzaffarabad, this JeM facility serves as a transit camp for militants before their infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. It typically houses between 50 and 100 operatives. The facility is headed by Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri and is also used by Indian fugitive Aashiq Nengroo and JeM commander Abdullah Jehadi (@Abdullah Kashmiri). The site receives training from Pakistan Army SSG commandos.
Were any fatalities reported?
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement confirming that women and children were among those killed in the attack. According to Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a spokesman for the Pakistan Army, at least eight individuals lost their lives, and 35 others were injured in missile strikes carried out by India on cities in Punjab and PoK, as reported by Geo News.
India, however, stated that “No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”
Pakistan’s Response
After India targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and inside Pakistan, the country has closed its airspace entirely. Previously, only Indian carrier flights were restricted, but now all flights, including domestic ones, are grounded, with only essential flights allowed.
Pakistan’s aviation authority declared a 48-hour no-fly zone, calling it a precautionary measure while vowing to retaliate. India’s actions followed Pakistan's ties to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians and was linked to a provocative speech by Pakistan’s Army Chief.
Flights to Islamabad and Lahore were diverted to Karachi, causing operational strain. India also restricted flights at airports along the western border. If Pakistan escalates, India has promised a strong response.
Security drills and precautionary measures
Following the strikes in Pakistan and PoJK, authorities have ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and educational institutions in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch for today. University exams have been rescheduled, and Srinagar airport has been shut down. Multiple airlines have canceled flights to various districts in Jammu and Kashmir and some parts of Punjab.
Meanwhile, 244 districts across India will be participating in civil defense mock drills as directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Two Women Officers Lead India's Briefing on Operation Sindoor
India's briefing on 'Operation Sindoor' highlighted the leadership of two women officers, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who shared details about the military's precise strikes on terror targets in Pakistan in response to the April 22 Pahalagam attack that killed 26 people.
Named in honor of women who lost their husbands in the attack, the operation's briefing was praised for its powerful use of women officers. Colonel Qureshi confirmed nine terrorist camps were destroyed, and emphasized that no military sites in Pakistan were targeted.
Wing Commander Singh added that while India showed restraint, the Armed Forces are prepared to respond to any escalation by Pakistan.
Who are Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi?
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh is a highly accomplished helicopter pilot with the Indian Air Force (IAF). After joining the National Cadet Corps (NCC), she pursued engineering studies and was granted a permanent commission in the flying branch on December 18, 2019. Singh has piloted helicopters like the 'Chetak' and 'Cheetah' in some of the most demanding environments in India, including the high-altitude regions of Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast. She has also played a crucial role in numerous rescue operations.
Colonel Sophia Qureshi, a distinguished officer in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals, has earned several accolades throughout her career. She made history as the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army contingent in a multinational military exercise held in Pune, one of the largest foreign military exercises ever conducted on Indian soil.
Operation Sindoor: Modi as the master strategist of global geopolitics
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has perfected the strategy of misleading his enemies, especially Pakistan, with calculated moves and calm demeanor. His actions before the Balakot airstrike in 2019 and the May 7, 2025, military strike follow an eerily similar pattern, making it clear that his strategic approach is deliberate.
Before both operations, Modi remained unflustered, addressing public events and speaking about India’s growth and resilience, with no indication of imminent military action. Even as India prepared for strikes, he maintained an air of confidence and avoided mentioning Pakistan directly. This calmness, combined with strategic misdirection—such as announcing war drills to confuse Pakistan—was a masterclass in deception.
If Pakistan had paid attention to Modi's behavior before Balakot, it might not have been caught off guard. Modi’s leadership, marked by calculated calm and subtle clues, leaves rivals second-guessing his every move.
Global Reactions to Operation Sindoor
Trump hopes for quick resolutionUS President Trump, commenting on India’s military action, expressed hope that the conflict ends swiftly, acknowledging a history of prolonged fighting.
Israel supports India's right to self-defenseIsrael quickly backed India's right to self-defense, condemning terrorism and offering support for India's actions.
China regrets India's military actionChina expressed regret over India's military operation, urging both countries to avoid escalating tensions.
Russia expresses concernRussia voiced deep concern over the escalating India-Pakistan confrontation, urging restraint from both sides.
France and UAE call for restraintBoth France and the UAE urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation and protect regional peace.
Japan condemns terror attack and urges calmJapan condemned the Kashmir terror attack and urged both countries to avoid retaliation and engage in dialogue for peace.
UN Secretary-General calls for restraintThe UN Secretary-General called for maximum restraint from India and Pakistan, emphasizing the need to avoid a military confrontation.
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