In the early hours of Wednesday (May 7), India launched a targeted strike on terror camps situated in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). This strategic military operation, named ‘Operation Sindoor’, was executed just 15 days after a brutal terror attack on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The government stated that the operation was ‘focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature’, emphasising that no Pakistani military facilities were hit.
Media Briefing on Operation Sindoor
Two senior women officers of the Indian Armed Forces, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sophia Qureshi, jointly addressed the media to brief on Operation Sindoor. The briefing, which also included Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, commenced at 10:35 am in New Delhi.
Before the briefing, videos were played showcasing previous terror attacks, highlighting the grim toll of violence over the years. These included the 2001 Parliament attack, which left 9 dead and 18 injured; the 2002 Akshardham temple attack, resulting in 31 fatalities and 80 injuries; the 2008 Mumbai attacks, claiming 164 lives and injuring over 300; the 2016 Uri attack, which killed over 20 and injured 21; the 2019 Pulwama attack, where 40 were killed and five injured; and the recent 2025 Pahalgam attack, which left 26 dead and 17 injured.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that India had formally flagged The Resistance Front (TRF) to the United Nations after the Pahalgam attack. He revealed that on April 22, 2025, terrorists linked to LeT and Pakistan attacked tourists in Pahalgam, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. According to Misri, the attackers brutally shot tourists in the head in front of their families.
Misri has said that Pakistan attempted to pressurise India into removing the mention of The Resistance Front (TRF) from an official statement following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Misri said that India took several diplomatic steps, but Pakistan continued to mislead international forums.
“Our intelligence agencies monitoring terrorist activities have indicated that there could be more attacks on India, and it was felt essential to both stop and tackle them,” Misri said.
He added, Pakistan is a safe heaven for terrorists. “The case of Sajid Mir, who was found alive after international pressure, is evidence that Pakistan does not take any action against terrorists in its controlled areas,” Misri said.
Operation Sindoor Details
Colonel Sophia Qureshi detailed the operation, which took place between 1:05 am and 1:30 am on May 7.
Nine terror camps were identified and destroyed with 21 target attacks. The operation targeted recruitment centers, indoctrination centers, training areas, and launchpads for terrorist handlers. Key camps included:
Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad – LeT: LeT training center, 30 km from PoJK LoC.
Syedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad – JeM: JeM staging area for weapon and jungle warfare training.
Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli – HM: Terror base active in Rajouri-Poonch area.
Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala – LeT: Weapons and IED training facility.
Markaz Abbas, Kotli – JeM: LeT Fidayeen training center.
Sarjal, Tehra Kalan – JeM: Linked to attacks on J&K police personnel.
Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot – HM: Hizbul Mujahideen operations center for Jammu-Kathua region.
Markaz Taiba, Muridke: Training center for the 2008 Mumbai attackers.
Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur: Headquarters of JeM and indoctrination hub.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stressed that Operation Sindoor was necessary to dismantle the terror infrastructure that Pakistan has built over the last three decades. She stated that the operation aimed to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
Foreign Secretary Misri highlighted that intelligence inputs have warned of potential further attacks. He also pointed out that Pakistan’s attempts to downplay TRF’s involvement reflect its continuous support for terrorism. He cited the case of Sajid Mir, found alive after international pressure, as proof of Pakistan’s harboring of terrorists.
Colonel Sophia Qureshi emphasised that the selection of targets in Pakistan and PoK was carefully planned to strike the core of the terror network. She reiterated that Operation Sindoor was conducted to ensure justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack and to curb Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
“Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to deliver justice to the victims of Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed. Over the last three decades, Pakistan has systematically built a terror infrastructure. It is a complex web of recruitment and indoctrination centres, training areas for initial and refresher courses and launchpads for handlers,” Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said.
Notably, A Cabinet meeting is underway at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. This is the first such meeting after India conducted “targetted and precise” military strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) to avenge the Arpil 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
