In a significant military escalation, India conducted a series of precision airstrikes early Wednesday, targeting nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation, codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor,’ was launched in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, including that of an Indian Navy officer and a Nepali national.
The strikes commenced at approximately 1:44 AM IST, focusing on sites associated with terrorist organizations Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Key targets included locations in Muridke, Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, and Kotli, known for housing training camps linked to past attacks on Indian soil, such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.
India’s Ministry of Defence described the operation as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” emphasizing that no Pakistani military installations were targeted. The strikes utilized Rafale jets equipped with SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer bombs, completing the mission within 23 minutes.
Following the strikes, Pakistani authorities reported at least 26 fatalities and 46 injuries, including women and children. Civilian structures, including mosques and residential buildings, sustained damage, leading to widespread panic and power outages in affected areas such as Muzaffarabad.
While India claimed the elimination of approximately 70 terrorists in the operation, Pakistan contested these figures, asserting that the majority of casualties were civilians. The conflicting reports have heightened tensions between the two nations.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as an “act of war,” vowing a “robust response.” The Pakistani military claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft and detained soldiers, though India has not confirmed these assertions.
India’s government has maintained that the operation was a justified response to the Pahalgam attack, aiming to dismantle terrorist infrastructure without escalating the conflict further. Officials highlighted the precision of the strikes and the avoidance of civilian areas to minimize collateral damage.
The United Nations, United States, and China have urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to prevent further escalation. The situation remains volatile, with increased military activity reported along the Line of Control.
The Pahalgam attack, which prompted Operation Sindoor, has been attributed to Pakistan-based terrorist groups, though Islamabad denies involvement. The incident has reignited longstanding tensions over the disputed Kashmir region, a flashpoint for multiple conflicts between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since 1947.
