Operation Sindoor: Tri-Services Unite to Dismantle Terror Networks
Operation Sindoor: Tri-Services Strike Terror Networks in Pakistan
At 1:44 AM IST on May 7, 2025, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) released a statement that sent shockwaves across the country, unveiling critical details of Operation Sindoor, a military offensive by the Indian Armed Forces. The press release confirmed that Operation Sindoor targeted nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK), from where attacks against India, including the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam massacre, were planned and directed.
The PIB emphasised that the strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” deliberately avoiding Pakistani military facilities to minimise escalation risks. The statement highlighted India’s commitment to holding perpetrators accountable, noting that a detailed briefing would follow later today.
The name Operation Sindoor carries symbolic weight, evoking the vermillion powder central to Indian cultural sentiments, signifying retribution and honour for the victims of the Pahalgam attack. On April 22, 2025, terrorists linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 26 people—25 Indians and one Nepali citizen—and injured several others in a brutal assault on tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, Jammu and Kashmir. Operation Sindoor was a befitting response, executed to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and prevent further attacks. The operation was carried out to neutralise senior leadership of LeT and JeM, disrupt their operational bases, and signal India’s resolve against cross-border terrorism.
Operation Targets Nine Terror Hubs in Pakistan, PoK
The nine targets of Operation Sindoor included four sites in Pakistan: Bahawalpur, home to Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Markaz Subhan Allah headquarters, a hub for planning attacks like the 2001 Indian Parliament assault; Muridke, Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Markaz Taiba headquarters, linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the Pahalgam massacre; Sialkot, hosting the Mehmoona Joya facility, associated with Hizbul Mujahideen; and Sarjal/Tehra Kalan, a Jaish-e-Mohammed infiltration launchpad. These sites are critical to terrorist operations, and their targeting aimed at disrupting the operational capabilities of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
In PoK, the armed forces struck five locations: Muzaffarabad, a strategic hub for militant infiltration; Kotli, another key terrorist base; Bhimber, home to the Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala; Gulpur, part of the terror network; and Chak Amru, a lesser-known but vital site for attack planning. These PoK targets are significant for their proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) and their role in facilitating cross-border terrorism into Jammu and Kashmir.
The significance of these nine targets lies in their operational and symbolic value. Bahawalpur and Muridke are nerve centers of JeM and LeT, respectively, while PoK sites like Muzaffarabad and Kotli are linchpins for terrorist logistics. Officially, the Indian government has not disclosed specific casualty figures on the Pakistani side from the operation, with the PIB stating only that the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure. On the Indian side, no military casualties were reported, and the government confirmed all pilots returned safely. However, Pakistan’s retaliatory artillery fire along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri killed three Indian civilians, to which the Indian Army responded proportionately. The Indian government has promised further details in a press briefing scheduled for May 7, 2025.
Pakistan Claims Civilian Toll, India Denies
Pakistan’s government, through Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Foreign Ministry, condemned Operation Sindoor as an “act of war” and a “flagrant violation of sovereignty,” claiming eight to nine civilian deaths, including a 16-year-old girl, and 22 to 38 injuries in six locations, including Bahawalpur and Muzaffarabad. Pakistani media, such as Dawn and Geo TV, echoed this, alleging strikes on civilian areas like mosques and reporting eight deaths. Pakistan’s ISPR claimed two to five Indian jets and a drone were shot down, a claim the Indian government firmly denied, asserting no jets were lost.
The operation was personally overseen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who granted the armed forces “complete operational freedom” to select targets, timing, and methods. Modi monitored the operation from the war room, coordinating with the three service chiefs, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The operation’s uniqueness lies in its rare tri-services collaboration—the first since the 1971 India-Pakistan War—involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
International reactions to Operation Sindoor reflect a mix of caution and support. The United States, through President Donald Trump, expressed hope for a quick resolution, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after a briefing from Doval, urged de-escalation. Russia, China, and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for restraint to avoid a nuclear confrontation.
In India, the opposition rallied behind Operation Sindoor, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge saluting the armed forces’ precision but urging the government to prevent escalation. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh echoed this support, with Ramesh calling for diplomatic management of tensions. PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti praised the operation but emphasised de-escalation and civilian safety in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Jammu and Kashmir government, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, expressed strong support for Operation Sindoor. Abdullah endorsed the strikes as a “strong message against terrorism” but urged restraint to protect border residents, while Sinha, after reviewing security post-Pahalgam, backed the operation as a necessary response to Pakistan-backed terrorism.
The Indian army on an X post at 1:51 AM declared, “Justice is served. Jai Hind!”. The nation awaits a detailed press briefing scheduled for 10:00 AM on May 7, 2025, at the National Media Centre, New Delhi, announced by PIB on X. This briefing is expected to clarify casualty figures, target details, and India’s next steps, as the government has promised transparency.
Post-Pahalgam, India took stringent measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari-Wagah border crossing, banning Pakistani ships from Indian ports, canceling all Pakistani visas, and imposing a digital blackout on Pakistani media. Pakistan responded by closing its airspace to Indian flights, mobilising troops along the border, and initiating LoC shelling, which killed three Indian civilians. Pakistan also moved terrorists to bunkers and sought international mediation, reflecting its defensive posture. Escalation remains a concern following Operation Sindoor, with India emphasising its military precision, diplomatic briefings to global capitals, and domestic support as strategic strengths. Pakistan’s claims of civilian casualties and downed Indian jets, unverified by independent sources, may weaken its international credibility.
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