India Launches ‘Operation Sindoor’ in Retaliation for Pahalgam Terror Attack: Nine Terror Camps Destroyed
In a decisive military response to the devastating terror attack that shook Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley on April 22, the Indian Armed Forces launched a precision operation codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting multiple terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, primarily tourists, was described as the deadliest assault on non-combatants in India in over two decades.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, briefing the media, confirmed that Operation Sindoor was meticulously planned and executed to deliver swift and effective justice to the victims and their families. According to Singh, Indian forces successfully destroyed nine terror camps during the offensive. These facilities were reportedly used as training grounds and logistical bases by militant organizations operating against India.
High-Profile Casualties: Masood Azhar’s Family Among the Dead
In the wake of the strikes, Maulana Masood Azhar, the founder and leader of the proscribed terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), acknowledged that 14 individuals close to him were killed in the attack on the group’s headquarters located in Bahawalpur, in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Azhar revealed that the casualties included 10 members of his own family, among them his elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, and several children aged between three and seven. Four of his long-time associates were also killed.
Azhar’s statement, laced with religious overtones, mourned the loss of his loved ones, referring to them as “fortunate” for having attained martyrdom. “There were four kids in our home yesterday, ay aged between 3 and 7 years. All of them have gone to live in heaven,” he remarked. Azhar, who has long evaded capture and remains a central figure in several terror plots against India, added that he, too, wished he had died in the Indian attack, but stated that “the time to meet God is fixed.”
Global Reactions: Caution and Condemnation
The international fallout from Operation Sindoor was swift. Major global powers, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, issued travel advisories urging their citizens to exercise caution while traveling to certain regions of India and Pakistan, citing the potential for escalated hostilities in the subcontinent.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the Indian action, labeling it as an “act of war.” In a strongly worded statement, Sharif asserted that Pakistan reserved the sovereign right to retaliate and would issue a “befitting reply” at a time of its choosing. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan military, confirmed that Indian airstrikes targeted three locations—the JeM base in Bahawalpur, and camps in Kotli and Muzaffarabad, both situated in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The ISPR emphasized that these airstrikes were launched from within Indian airspace, without Indian aircraft crossing into Pakistani territory.
Israel Voices Support for India’s Right to Self-Defence
Reacting to the military developments, the Consul General of Israel in Mumbai, Kobbi Shoshani, publicly extended support to India. Describing the operation as a “clear and firm message,” Shoshani reiterated that Israel stands shoulder-to-shoulder with India in its fight against terrorism. India has the right to defend itself. The message from this action is very clear—not only to Pakistan but to all who attempt to harbor or support terror,” he stated during an interview with ANI.
Airspace Closure and Regional Tensions
In a significant precautionary move following the Indian offensive, Pakistan’s aviation authorities announced a 48-hour closure of national airspace. Initially, the shutdown affected flights over Islamabad and Lahore, which were redirected to Karachi. However, within hours, a full airspace lockdown was enforced across Pakistan. The airspace restriction impacted both domestic and international flights, highlighting the severe geopolitical tensions in the aftermath of the military action.
This unprecedented military action marks one of the most aggressive and overt operations carried out by India against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan in recent years. It signals a new and uncompromising doctrine in India’s counter-terrorism posture, particularly in the wake of attacks on civilians.
As the subcontinent awaits Pakistan’s next move, the international community continues to monitor the situation with concern, urging restraint but recognizing India’s right to defend itself against persistent cross-border terrorism.
