New Delhi: In a decisive response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, the Indian Armed Forces launched “Operation Sindoor” in the early hours of May 7, executing precision strikes on nine terrorist infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK).
“Operation Sindoor”, described by India’s Ministry of Defence as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” targeted terror camps linked to banned outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen, while deliberately avoiding Pakistani military facilities.
The strikes, conducted between 1:05 AM and 1:30 AM IST, involved coordinated efforts by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, utilising advanced precision strike weapons, including SCALP missiles and HAMMER bombs deployed by Rafale jets. Key targets included JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur, LeT’s base in Muridke, and camps in Kotli and Muzaffarabad, all identified as hubs for planning cross-border attacks on India.
The operation was a direct retaliation for the Pahalgam massacre, which India alleges was orchestrated by Pakistan-based terrorists, supported by credible intelligence, survivor testimonies, and technical evidence.
India’s Ministry of Defence issued a statement at 1:44 AM, emphasising that ‘Operation Sindoor’ was a calibrated response to hold perpetrators accountable without escalating tensions. “India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution,” the statement read, underscoring that no Pakistani military or civilian infrastructure was targeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the operation throughout the night, while National Security Advisor Ajit Doval briefed counterparts in the US, UK, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, reinforcing India’s anti-terror stance. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for global unity against terrorism, stating, “The world must show zero tolerance for terrorism.”
A press briefing by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) at 10:30 AM IST provided further details, confirming the destruction of four JeM, three LeT, and two Hizbul Mujahideen camps.
The Indian Army released a video titled “Ready to Strike, Trained to Win” on X, showcasing military preparedness before the operation.
“प्रहाराय सन्निहिताः, जयाय प्रशिक्षिताः”
Ready to Strike, Trained to Win.#IndianArmy pic.twitter.com/M9CA9dv1Xx— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 6, 2025
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the strikes, posting “Bharat Mata ki Jai” on social media, while opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, expressed unequivocal support for the armed forces.
News agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) today cited unnamed officials claiming that seven civilians were killed and over 50 were injured due to shelling by Pakistan in multiple areas along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir after India executed precision air strikes inside Pakistan in response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. The agency said ten civilians were injured due to shelling that came from across the border in the Nowpora and Kalgae areas of Salamabad in Uri, with three more civilians injured in Rajouri. Those injured were evacuated to local healthcare centers for assistance. Earlier media reports said in response to the strikes, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC), with artillery shelling in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhimber Gali and Poonch-Rajauri sectors, killing three civilians and injuring 38.
The Additional Directorate General of Public Information of Indian Army, stated that Pakistan has continuously been violating the Ceasefire Agreement by firing Artillery in Bhimber Gali in Poonch- Rajauri area, and that the Indian Army “is responding appropriately in a calibrated manner”.
Media reports said in Srinagar that the Pakistan Army conducted intense mortar shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) for the thirteenth consecutive day.
In Islamabad, Pakistan’s government and military confirmed the strikes but disputed India’s claims of precision and non-escalatory intent. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesperson, Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, reported that Indian strikes hit five locations, resulting in eight civilian deaths, including a three-year-old girl in Punjab, and 35 injuries. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as a “cowardly act of war,” asserting Pakistan’s “right to respond forcefully.” The Pakistani Foreign Office summoned India’s deputy high commissioner in Islamabad to lodge a formal protest and closed its airspace for 48 hours, disrupting international flights.
Pakistan’s military claimed to have shot down three Indian Rafale jets, one Su-30, and one MiG-29, though India has not confirmed these losses. A news Aagencey Reuters’ footage was being widely circulated showing remains of an Indian aircraft was discovered in Pampore, Pulwama. Although the wreckage is located in the southern region of Kashmir. The Indian Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check handle on X, however, said the information being floated was fake. “An old image showing a crashed aircraft is being re-circulated by pro-Pakistan handles in various forms in the current context of #OperationSindoor,” it said. Besides, there were unconfirmed news of India having downed a Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder was also doing rounds.
Context and Symbolism
The codename “Sindoor,” referring to the vermilion powder symbolizing marital commitment in Hindu tradition, carries deep significance. The Pahalgam attack targeted male tourists, leaving many women widowed, and the operation’s name reflects India’s resolve to deliver justice. This marks the first tri-services operation against Pakistan since the 1971 war, surpassing the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot airstrikes in scope and depth, with strikes reaching as far as Muridke and Bahawalpur in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
The operation has heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, prompting flight cancellations in northern Indian airports like Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, and Chandigarh, and diversions by international carriers avoiding Pakistani airspace. India activated its S-400 air defense system, and a nationwide civil defense drill was conducted to test preparedness amid escalating tensions.
International Reactions
The US, through President Donald Trump, expressed hope that the conflict “ends very quickly,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for a peaceful resolution. The UN warned that the world “cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan.” Indian-origin US Congressman Shri Thanedar supported India’s right to defend its people, reflecting a polarized global response.
Pakistan, meanwhile,reached out to Türkiye for diplomatic and military support, signaling efforts to internationalize the issue.
Social Media Misinformation by Pakistan
Pro-Pakistan X handles shared a false video claiming Pakistani Air Force attacked Srinagar’s airbase, which India debunked as footage from 2024 sectarian clashes. This reflects efforts to counter India’s narrative with propaganda.
Pakistani media outlets have reacted with a mix of outrage, skepticism, and calls for retaliation, while some have faced restrictions in India.
In an editorial Pakistani newspaper The Dawn condemned India’s ‘Operation Sindoor” as “unprovoked aggression,” alleging they violated Pakistan’s sovereignty. It criticized India’s claim of targeting only terror camps, citing civilian casualties, and urged the international community to intervene. Dawn reported that Pakistan’s air defenses, equipped with Chinese-made HQ-9 systems, failed to counter India’s precision strikes. Pakistan’s Geo News Anchors described the strikes as a “blatant act of war” and highlighted Pakistan’s military response, including airspace closure and LoC violations. The outlet faced access restrictions in India, with its website down in several regions. Another Pakistani newspaper, The Express Tribune reported Pakistan’s vow to retaliate “at a time and place of our choosing,” quoting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. ARY News channel emphasized Pakistan’s military preparedness and reported public protests in Lahore and Karachi against India’s actions.
– global bihari bureau
