21 terror camps wiped out in 25 minutes: How India struck at the heart of LeT, JeM

“Justice is Served”.

On Wednesday morning (May 7), India carried out a massive counter-terrorism offensive, dubbed Operation Sindoor, across nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This strike at 1.44 am was in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists.

Hours later, India held a press briefing to explain how the Indian Armed Forces — the Army, Navy and Air Force — carried out coordinated strikes for 25 minutes against 21 terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Catch up on all the live updates from Operation Sindoor here

They also explained why they chose these 21 sites for the strikes. Here’s a detailed explainer on the significance of these sites and their roles in peddling terrorism into India.

More from Explainers

From Pahalgam to Operation Sindoor: How India and Pakistan reached the brink of conflict Not 9, Indian forces actually targeted 21 in Pak, PoK under Operation Sindoor

‘Sites chosen based on credible intel’

In a press briefing hours after Operation Sindoor, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the action was based on “credible intel” and aimed to “break the backbone of terrorism”.

Flanked by Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Misri said the precision attacks, jointly executed by the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, targeted 21 terror camps across nine locations in Pakistan and PoK. The entire operation was completed in a span of just 25 minutes — from 1.05 am to 1.30 am.

Of the nine locations, four were located in Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Sialkot, and five in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Defence said: “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in the selection of targets and method of execution.”

Editor’s Picks

1

Why PM Modi named India’s military strikes in Pakistan, PoK as Operation Sindoor 2

Flight operations hit, schools shut: How Indians are affected after Operation Sindoor

Markaz Taiba — Muridke

One of the camps hit by India under Operation Sindoor was Markaz Taiba, located in Nangal Sahdan, Muridke. This is the principal training facility of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and was established in 2000. Intelligence agencies reveal that Markaz Taiba is considered the alma mater of the LeT.

Some news reports state that the site was partially funded by 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden and today includes mosques and training centres.

The camp is also where all 26/11 Mumbai terror attack perpetrators, including Ajmal Kasab and David Headley were imparted ‘Daura-e-Ribbaf (intelligence training) at this facility. Moreover, Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the prime conspirators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had visited Muridke on instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

Markaz Subhan Allah — Bahawalpur

Located at NH-5 (Karachi-Torkham Highway) on the outskirts of Bahawalpur at Karachi Mor, this the main centre of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) for the training and indoctrination of youth. It is spread over a 15-acre area.

The terror camp has been linked to the 2019 Pulwama attack. It is from this location that the perpetrators of the Pulwama were trained.

Moreover, the Bahawalpur camp also houses senior JeM leaders including Maulana Masood Azhar, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, and Maulana Ammar.

Sarjal/Tehra Kalan facility — Narowal

Tehra Kalan or Sarjal facility is the main launching site of the JeM for infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and kashmir. It is located in the Shakargarh Tehsil of Narowal District in Punjab, Pakistan.

Located just six kilometres away from the International Border in Samba, it’s also used for digging cross-border tunnels and launching drones to smuggle arms and narcotics into Indian territory.

At the press briefing today, the officials said that that the terrorists, who shot dead four soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir in March 2025, were trained here.

Mehmoona Joya facility — Sialkot

A stronghold of Hizbul Mujahideen, this location served as the training camp for terrorists involved in the Pathankot airbase attack of 2016.

The facility is overseen by Hizbul commander Mohd Irfan Khan alias Irfan Tanda, and regularly hosts 20–25 active terrorists. For those who don’t know, Tanda has been involved in carrying out several attacks in the Jammu region. He is allegedly responsible for carrying out the blasts on January 26, 1995 in the Maulana Azad Stadium of Jammu that left eight persons dead and 50 injured.

Sawai Nala — Muzaffarabad

This terror camp, also known as Bait-ul-Mujahideen, is one of the LeT’s most important ones for training and recruitment. Functional since early 2000, it is situated near the Chelabandi bridge on Muzaffarabad-Neelum Road, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Intel reveals that LeT head Hafiz Saeed used to welcome new inductees to this camp on their arrival.

Syedna Bilal — Muzaffarabad

A key JeM camp, it is located opposite the Red Fort in Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It is reported that around 50-100 cadres reside in this facility and are often trained by Pakistani Special Forces, SSG.

The facility is run by Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, with Indian fugitive Aashiq Nengroo also operating from here.

Gulpur — Kotli

Situated 30 km from the LoC, this is a base and control centre of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. It was used for the revival of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. It served as a training centre for terrorists involved in the April 20, 2023 attack in Poonch and June 9, 2024 attack on pilgrims.

OPERATION SINDOOR#JusticeServed

Target 2 – Gulpur Terrorist Camp at Kotli.
Distance – 30 Km from Line of Control (POJK).
Control Center and Base of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)
Used for revival of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

DESTROYED AT 1.08 AM on 07 May 2025.… pic.twitter.com/JyYlZEAKgU

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 7, 2025

Markaz Abbas — Kotli

Located close to the Kotli Military Camp, Markaz Abbas is an important training facility for the JeM. It can accommodate 100–125 cadres and plays a pivotal role in planning infiltration and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Maskar Raheel Shahid — Kotli

Maskar Raheel Shahid is one of the oldest facilities of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). A secluded facility, it is accessible only via a kachcha track. This camp offers specialised sniper, BAT (Border Action Team), and survival training for operations in hilly terrain.

Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala — Bhimber

Specialising in weapons handling, explosives and jungle survival training centre, this LeT camp is also used for infiltrating terrorists and smuggling arms into the Poonch-Rajouri-Reasi sector. Able to accommodate 100-150 terrorists, it is operated by LeT leaders including Qasim Gujjar, Qasim Khanda, and Anas Jarar.

Besides these camps, India also identified the other locations where it struck under Operation Sindor. These were Maskar-e-Aqsa, Chelabandi, Dulai, Garhi Habibullah, Batrasi, Balakot, Ogi, Boi, Sensa, Barali and Dungi.

With inputs from agencies