Operation Sindoor Live: India Conducts Targeted Strikes on Nine Terror Bases in Pakistan in Unprecedented Joint Military Action
In a historic tri-services initiative named Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces launched coordinated missile strikes in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). According to the Ministry of Defence, these precise strikes were conducted without engaging Pakistani military installations.
The targeted locations included Muridke and Bahawalpur—known hubs for the terrorist outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The operation was reportedly a direct response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in 26 deaths, including one Nepali national.
The Defence Ministry emphasized that the operation was "focused, calibrated, and non-escalatory," reiterating India's commitment to holding perpetrators of terrorism accountable. The statement clarified that the chosen targets were linked to the planning and coordination of cross-border attacks against India.
These strikes came just hours before nationwide mock drills scheduled across 244 districts, aimed at testing civil defence preparedness in the event of an external threat. Home Secretary Govind Mohan is set to assess the status of civil defence readiness, including siren systems, bunker maintenance, and civilian safety training.
Meanwhile, tensions along the Line of Control have escalated, with Pakistan initiating heavy shelling in several forward areas in Poonch and Rajouri, including Krishna Ghati, Shahpur, and Mankote.
The UN Security Council recently held a closed-door session to discuss rising tensions between India and Pakistan. While no formal statement was issued, Pakistan claimed its concerns had been sufficiently addressed during the discussions.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the developments, stating that the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan had made such a response foreseeable. “It’s unfortunate,” Trump said, “but many anticipated a reaction given the history between the two nations.”
In a related development, commercial air traffic was suspended over parts of northern India as a precautionary measure following the strikes.
Over 70 militants were reportedly eliminated and more than 60 others injured during the precision strikes, according to sources. The operation dealt a major blow to the operational strength of the terror groups involved. JeM leader Maulana Masood Azhar is said to have lost ten family members and four close associates in the assault.
The strikes, executed at 1:44 a.m., were carried out in retaliation for the April 22 terror incident in Pahalgam, located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals—25 Indian nationals and one citizen of Nepal.
