 "From Bahawalpur to Muridke: What are the 9 sites India struck in Pakistan, PoK?")
Operation Sindoor. These are the words that are reverberating across India. The military strikes were a much-awaited response to the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26, mostly tourists.
On Wednesday, at 1.44 am, India’s three forces – the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force – conducted precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This tri-service operation is the first since 1971.
So, what did India target in Pakistan and why? We explain.
How and why India hit nine sites in Pakistan, PoK
India has hit nine sites targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of Wednesday.
“A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ , hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement soon after the strike.
“Altogether nine sites have been attacked,” it added.
According to the ministry, no Pakistani military facilities were hit. “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,” the statement said.
The strikes were in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April , in which 25 Indians, mostly tourists and a Nepali citizen were killed. “We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable,” the Defence Ministry said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIndia’s missiles struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. Precision strike-capable weapon systems of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force were used. This included the loitering munitions, reports the news agency ANI.
The coordinates for the attacks on terrorist camps were provided by intelligence agencies. The strikes were carried out from Indian soil, the report says.
How India’s nine targets were selected
During Operation Sindoor, India chose its targets after deliberation. Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba has been linked to the Pahalgam attack. India’s retaliatory strike was planned to dismantle infrastructure used by the LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizbul Mujahideen, and other affiliated terrorist networks.
Each of the nine targets hit during Operation Sindoor has been linked to terror plots and infiltration attempts targeting India. These sites were zeroed in on after assessing their significance and the role they played in cross-border terrorism.
Sources told CNN-News18 said that the strikes were aimed specifically at crippling the leadership structures of JeM and LeT, operating from Pakistan. “The terror headquarters of Jaish and Lashkar were successfully hit. The impact is far greater than previous Indian responses," a senior official said.
What were the nine sites India targeted in Operation Sindoor?
Muridke: Among the targets struck by India were LeT’s headquarters in Muridke in Pakistan’s Punjab and terrorist and Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar’s madrassa. Azhar has been linked to the Pahalgam attack and has masterminded the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Muridke is known as the “terror nursery” of Pakistan. Markaz Taiba, the main training camp of LeT was targeted. It not only provides arms training but also religious indoctrination for recruits.
The sprawling headquarters of LeT and its affiliate Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) are spread across 200 acres in Muridke. It reportedly houses terror camps and other related infrastructure, often used against India and has been functional since 1990.
The construction of this facility was financed by Osama bin Laden. It is where 26/11 attackers, including Ajmal Kasab, received training, reports Hindustan Times.
The city of Muridke is 30 kilometres from Lahore and is a major commercial hub of Pakistan.
Bahawalpur: Another city in Pakistan’s Punjab, Bahawalpur is synonymous with the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the terror organisation led by Masood Azhar.
The JeM has plotted and claimed responsibility for several terror attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament strike, the 2016 attack on Pathankot airbase, and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, where a convoy of vehicles carrying CRPF personnel was attacked, leading to 40 deaths.
The JeM which was created in 2000 and is linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence first started operations from training camps in Afghanistan. After the fall of the Taliban, it relocated to Balakot and then to Peshawar and Muzaffarabad, reports Tribune India.
In 2009, JeM established its headquarters in Bahawalpur. It spreads over 18 acres and houses a mosque, a madrassa and a walled complex, where cadres are recruited and trained.
Bahawalpur was once a hub where cadres fighting in Afghanistan during the US presence would throng to recuperate. It also houses bases of other terror groups like the LeT, which has a close association with the JeM.
The city, which is 130 kilometres from the Indo-Pak border, is a key military centre for the Pakistan Army, where the 31 Corps is headquartered. It is responsible for defence operations in Pakistan’s southern Punjab and northern Sindh areas, reports Tribune.
While India has not targeted any military posts, the JEM camp was hit during Operation Sindoor.
Muzaffarabad: It is the largest city in PoK and serves as its administrative capital. Several explosions were heard in the areas close to the mountains around the city on Wednesday. The city lost power after the attack.
Muzaffarabad serves as a major hub for infiltration into J&K. It houses terror camps, logistical centres and staging grounds for cross-border attacks, according to intelligence agencies.
The Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad was among the targets hit by India’s missile strikes. It is reportedly linked to the JeM.
Kotli: Kotli is a city along the Poonch River in PoK. It serves as a major training ground for suicide bombers and insurgents. The facility houses at least 50 cadres at a time, reports NDTV.
Markaz Abbas and Maskar Raheel Shahid facilities were hit during Operation Sindoor. The first is the JeM facility, while the latter is linked to Hizbul Mujahideen.
Gulpur: Gulpur is 35 km from the LoC in the Poonch-Rajouri belt.
Gulpur provides support to the terror ecosystem thriving in Pakistan. It was used in 2023 and 2024 to launch terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and Poonch. According to intel inputs, it played a role in the ambush on Indian soldiers in Poonch in April 2023 and the attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims the next year.
The site was used as a staging area by terrorists who attacked Indian security convoys and civilian targets in the region.
Mehmoona in Sialkot: Another target was the Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot. It houses the camps and training centres of the banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen.
The outfit has seen its powers wane in recent years. However, terrorists continued to be trained to be sent across the border, especially in areas like Mehmoona, where they continue to receive support from locals.
The Mehmoona Joya facility is headed by Mohammad Irfan Khan, also known as Irfan Tanda. He has been linked to multiple attacks in the Jammu region, reports Hindustan Times.
Barnala: The Markaz Ahle Hadith on the outskirts of Barnala was targeted. It is a LeT facility that has been used for infiltration of operatives and weapons into the Poonch–Rajouri–Reasi sector, reports Hindustan Times.
It can accommodate 100 to 150 cadres and has been the hub for LeT operatives like Qasim Gujjar, Qasim Khanda, and Anas Jarar.
Sawai: Indian missiles hit the Sawai camp in the Tangdhar sector. It serves as a hub for the LeT and has provided support for terror attacks in Sonmarg and Gulmarg in October last year. It has also been linked to the Pahalgam strike.
Sarjal: Sarjal is a JeM facility located in the Shakargarh tehsil of Narowal district in Pakistan’s Punjab. It is situated six kilometres from the international border near the Samba sector in J&K.
It is used for smuggling arms and narcotics and also operating drones, reports Hindustan Times.
With inputs from agencies
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