Operation Sindoor: India Strikes Deep Inside Pakistan, Destroys Jaish & Lashkar Terror Bases

On April 22, a terrorist attack took place in Pahalgam, and exactly two weeks later, the Indian Armed Forces launched a powerful retaliatory strike under "Operation Sindoor" on the night of Wednesday. This marked the first time since the 1971 war that all three branches of the Indian military—Army, Air Force, and Navy—carried out a coordinated strike. The operation targeted nine major terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which had long been involved in orchestrating attacks on India. One of the key targets was Bahawalpur in Pakistan’s Punjab province, known to be the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, the group responsible for the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Due to its central role in anti-India terrorism, Bahawalpur was the primary target. Another major location, Muridke, about 40 km from Lahore, serves as the main base and training center for Lashkar-e-Taiba. This camp was where the 2008 Mumbai attackers were trained, complete with indoctrination, logistics, and military instruction. Kotli in PoK has been a long-standing concern for India as it has served as a training hub for suicide bombers and infiltrators, with over 50 active trainees reported at any given time. Similarly, Gulpur was used as a launchpad for the 2023 and 2024 attacks on Indian forces in Rajouri and Poonch. Terrorists from here would infiltrate into Indian territory as part of organized groups. The regions of Sawai, Sarjal, and Barnala were known infiltration points used by militants to cross into India via the Line of Control and the international border, making them strategic targets in the operation. Near Sialkot, the Mehmuna camp, historically linked to Hizbul Mujahideen, was also struck. Though Hizbul’s influence has waned, this camp still maintained active training and support networks.