Precision strikes were carried out by the Bharatiya army to destroy terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK (Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir). The operation was aptly named Operation Sindoor with a deep symbolism. The focus was on destroying terror factories of Pakistan back terror groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM).
Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad: This was the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) training center located 30 km from PoJK LoC. This training facility in Tangdhar sector is the place from which Islamists behind the Pahalgam massacre and last October’s Sonmarg and Gulmarg attacks came.
Syedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad: This site served as the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) staging area for weapon and jungle warfare training. Training in weapons, explosives, and survival strategies in jungles and tough terrains were provided here.
Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli: This was a Hizbul Mujahideen terror base that was active in Rajouri-Poonch area.
Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala: This site served as the weapons and IED training facility of LeT. It was also the training centre for jungle survival techniques.
Markaz Abbas, Kotli: JeM & LeT Fidayeen training center is situated 13 kilometres from the LoC. It was the main hub for training LeT’s suicide bombers with the capacity to house 50 ‘recruits’ at a time.
Sarjal, Tehra Kalan: This LeT terror factory was linked to attacks on J&K police personnel. It is also the closest facility to LoC that was targeted and destroyed by the Bharatiya army.
Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot: This was the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) operations center for Jammu-Kathua region. Located 12 kilometres from the international boundary, it was HM’s key training centre that was used to revive terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir.
Markaz Taiba, Muridke: Training center for the 26 November 2008 Mumbai attackers. This ideological factory of Hafiz Saeed’s LeT is located about 50 kilometres from Lahore. Ajmal Kasab, David Headley, and other 26/11 terrorists were trained here.
Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur: This terror site destroyed by the Bharatiya army was the headquarters of JeM and indoctrination hub. Located in Pakistan’s Punjab province, this was the deepest target hit by the Bharatiya Armed Forces under Operation Sindoor. This site was used for recruitment, training, and indoctrination. According to security forces, Masood Azhar frequented Markaz.
The Bharatiya Army and the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) in their press briefing made it clear that this was just the beginning and more action will follow. These aren’t merely terror factories but sites used by the Pakistani Army and ISI to train terrorists and provide them logistical support. The destruction of these camps is the first step in avenging the Pahalgam attack and intended to send a strong message to the rogue nation Pakistan that their misadventures won’t be tolerated.
Despite the Ministry and Bharatiya Army officials stating that they had taken a measured approach, Pakistan tried to escalate matters by attempting to engage several Bharatiya military targets on the intervening night between 7 and 8 May. This was met with the apt response and additionally, an Air Defence System at Lahore was also neutralised.
Gone are the days of sending dossiers, every Pakistani terror attack will be met with a strong military response.
