New Delhi: In a landmark tri-services operation, the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force carried out coordinated precision strikes at 1:44 AM on terrorist infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The action was in direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
Sources informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi closely monitored the mission throughout.
The strikes targeted nine specific locations used for planning and launching terrorist operations, under the codename ‘Operation Sindoor’.
Indian officials stated that the operation was carefully calibrated to avoid escalation.
“Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalatory. No Pakistani military installations were targeted. India has exercised significant restraint in both target selection and execution methodology,” the statement read.
“We stand by our commitment to hold accountable those responsible for the Pahalgam attack.”
According to sources, this operation marks Phase 1 of India’s response, with subsequent actions likely depending on Pakistan’s reaction.
In apparent retaliation, Pakistan launched cross-border firing and artillery shelling across the Line of Control, resulting in the deaths of three Indian civilians.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary, confirmed that Indian strikes hit locations including Kotli, Muridke, Bahawalpur, Chak Amru, Bhimber, Gulpur, Sialkot, and two areas in Muzaffarabad.
Of these, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Chak Amru, and Muridke lie across the international border, while the remaining sites are within Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Notably, Muridke serves as the headquarters of the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, led by Hafiz Saeed, and Bahawalpur is home to Jaish-e-Mohammad, run by Masood Azhar.
In response, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared,
“Pakistan reserves every right to respond forcefully to this act of war imposed by India. A strong response is underway.”
