Operation Sindoor: In a highly coordinated operation, the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy conducted an early morning precision strike on 9 terrorist camps in Pakistan’s Bahawalpur and Muridke. The Indian Army provided ground support while the IAF conducted the airstrike. Indian Navy supported the operation with its assets, including the P8I aircraft and MQ9 Predator drones.The Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack by the Pakistan-backed terrorists in Baisaran Valley (Kashmir) that claimed the lives of 26 civilians on 22 April.
Operation Sindoor: Details of targets
- Markaz Subhan Allah, Jaish-e-Mohammad Bahawalpur, Punjab: is an operational headquarters of Jaish-e-Muhammad associated with terrorist planning, including the Pulwama attack on Feb 14, 2019.
- Markaz Taiba, Muridke, Sheikhpura, Punjab: It is one of the most important training centres of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
- Sarjal/Tehra Kalan facility Jaish-e-Mohammad Shakargarh, Narowal, Punjab: This is the main launching site of JeM for terrorist infiltration into J&K. To conceal its real purpose, this facility is located inside the premises of a Primary Health Center (PHC) in Tehra Kalan Village of the Sarjal area.
- Mehmoona Joya facility of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM): It is located near Kotli Bhutta government hospital in Head Marala area of Sialkot, Punjab. The terror backers, Pak ISI, have facilitated the setting up of such launch facilities along IB & LoC in Govt buildings to hide terror infrastructure.
- Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala, LeT, Bhimber, PoJK: Markaz Ahle Hadith is one of the important Markaz of LeT in PoJK and is used for infiltration of LeT terrorists and arms/ammunition into Poonch – Rajauri – Reasi sector.
- Markaz Abbas, JeM, POJK: Markaz Saidna Hazrat Abbas Bin Abdul Mutalib of JeM is located in Mohalla Roli Dhara Bypass Road, Kotli, PoJK. This Markaz is located approximately. 02 km south-east of Kotli Military Camp.
- Maskar Raheel Shahid, Hizbul-Mujahideen Kotli, HM, PoJK: Located at approx. 2.5 km from Mahuli Puli in Kotli District, Maskar Rahil Shahid is one of the oldest facilities of HM. It is a secluded facility and accessible only via a kuchcha track. The camp is located in a hilly area and comprises barracks, four rooms being used for keeping arms & ammunition, an office, and for residential purposes for terrorists.
- Shawai Nallah Camp, LeT: Functional since 2000, it is one of the most important camps of LeT and is used for the recruitment, registration, and training of LeT cadres.
- Syedna Bilal Masjid, Muzaffarabad, POJK: It is the main centre of JeM in PoJK, located opposite the Red Fort, Muzaffarabad. This facility is used as a transit camp for JeM terrorists prior to their launching into J&K. At any point in time, 50-100 cadres reside in this facility.
It must be noted that demands of strict action against Pakistan were being raised since April 22 attack in Pahalgam. India and PM Modi, time and again, iterated that India will give a befitting response. Nevertheless, Pakistan has accepted that strikes have hit inside POJK and Punjab. It has vowed retaliation. Meanwhile, indiscriminate firing has continued from the Pakistani side on civilians at LoC and international border. Due to this, India has started evacuating people from border villages in Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.