In a bold response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India’s armed forces carried out precision strikes overnight on terror infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The coordinated strikes, codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeted nine key locations believed to be hubs for terrorist operations.
‘Focused, Measured, Non-Escalatory’
The Indian government stated that the operation was “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” emphasising that no Pakistani military installations were targeted.
“Considerable restraint was shown in both the selection of targets and the execution method,” the statement read. “We are fulfilling our promise to hold the perpetrators accountable.”
Pakistan Army Reacts
Although India did not officially disclose the strike locations, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary, claimed that sites in Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Muridke, and Bahawalpur were hit.
Notably, Muridke is the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), led by Hafiz Saeed, while Bahawalpur is home to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), run by Masood Azhar.
Pakistan said it will respond to the strikes by India at a time and place of its own choosing, adding that the attack by India “will not go unanswered”.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that India’s “temporary pleasure will be replaced by enduring grief”.
Pakistan also claimed it shot down Indian jets.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said in an interview on CNN: “I can confirm that two aircraft of Indian Air force have been taken down. The locations I have so far are around Bhatinda in India [Punjab] and Akhnoor [in occupied Kashmir].”
DG ISPR said a child was killed in the Indian attack. He said mosque was targeted in Bahawalpur while two civilians were killed in Kotli, reported Dawn.
Sharif Vows ‘Forceful Response’
In a statement, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the strikes and labelled them “an act of war,” vowing a “forceful response.”
Following the Indian operation, Pakistan opened artillery fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Bhimber Gali sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch-Rajauri region.
Indian forces are reportedly responding “appropriately and in a calibrated manner.”
Adding to the heightened military posture, the Indian Air Force has scheduled a two-day combat exercise in Rajasthan along the international border, beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday and concluding at 3 a.m. on Friday.
NOTAM Issued
A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has been issued, suspending all civilian flight operations over a large portion of the Thar Desert.
Coinciding with the air drill, India is also conducting its first nationwide civil defence mock drill since 1971 across 244 districts, simulating preparedness for a hostile attack.
For nearly two weeks leading up to the strikes, Pakistan had engaged in intermittent small arms fire along the LoC.
India’s response, until now, had been restrained and proportional. But the Pahalgam massacre marked a turning point in India’s counter-terrorism strategy.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” on X following the operation, while the Indian Army declared, “Justice is served. Jai Hind.”
Trump Comments
United States President Donald Trump issued his first statement after India hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.
“It’s a shame. We just heard about it They’ve been fighting for a long timeThey have been fighting for many many decades.. and centuries actually. I just hope it ends very quickly,” Trump told reporters.
“Nobody wants to see two powerful nations going down that road,” Trump said. “These are countries with long histories and deep tensions, but the world needs peace, not more conflict.”
Doval Speaks To Rubio
In a press release, Indian Embassy in Washington DC said: “India’s actions have been focused and precise. They were measured, responsible and designed to be non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani civilian, economic or military targets have been hit. Only known terror camps were targeted.”
“Shortly after the strikes, NSA Shri Ajit Doval spoke with US NSA and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and briefed him on the actions taken,” it said.
Also Read: India Avenges Pahalgam Attack: Targets Terror Hubs In Pakistan Punjab
(With inputs from IBNS)
