In a decisive military response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor, a series of overnight precision strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes, executed with SCALP cruise missiles and Hammer smart bombs, focused on nine key sites believed to be hubs for planning cross-border terror attacks.
India emphasized that the operation was “focused, measured and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military installations targeted. “Those responsible for this attack will be held accountable,” the government said. Locations such as Muridke, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad—known bases of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed—were reportedly hit, according to Pakistan’s military spokesperson.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Indian Army declared the operation a success, with a post reading, “Justice is served. Jai Hind.” In retaliation, Pakistan opened artillery fire along the LoC in the Poonch-Rajauri sector, to which Indian troops responded in a calibrated manner.
The Indian Air Force has initiated a war game exercise along the Rajasthan border, while civil aviation has been impacted across northern cities. The strikes precede India’s largest national defence preparedness drill since 1971, set to be held in 244 districts.
Diplomatically, India had already suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, revoked Pakistani visas, and shut down bilateral air and land corridors prior to the strikes. PM Modi affirmed, “India’s water will be used for India’s interests,” while Pakistan has threatened to reconsider the 1972 Simla Agreement in response.
