Over 80 terrorists were reportedly killed in a series of attacks carried out by Indian armed forces on terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) early on May 7, Wednesday. In the cross-border action, which has been christened “Operation Sindoor”, nine facilities linked to banned terrorist outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen were targeted.

The attacks, which were carried out at 1:44 am. Four of the nine sites were located inside Pakistan, while the remaining five were in POK. However, no Pakistani military installations were targeted.

Operation Sindoor comes in retaliation to the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, mostly tourists dead. Soon after the Pahalgam terror attack which took place on April 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to pursue the perpetrators of the attack and those who took part in its conspiracy to inflict punishment to them “beyond their imagination”.

Around 25 to 30 terrorists were killed at each of the two largest targeted sites, Bahawalpur and Muridke under Operation Sindoor, as per initial reports. However, Indian agencies the number of casualties in the other terror camps are yet to be revealed.

India’s firm message to Pakistan

In an official statement, the Ministry of Defence confirmed hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir “from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.”

The Ministry of Defence has clarified that Operation Sindoor was “focused, measured, and non-escalatory”. Every effort was made to ensure that only terrorist infrastructure was targeted, avoiding any damage to Pakistani military installations. This strategy was designed to send a firm message while avoiding broader military conflict.

India attacks JeM stronghold Bahawalpur and Muridke

Under Operation Sindoor, the two biggest strikes were conducted in JeM stronghold Bahawalpur and Muridke, killing an estimated 25–30 terrorists at each site. In Muridke, the target was Masjid wa Markaz Taiba, the LeT’s nerve centre and ideological headquarters, which is infamous as Pakistan’s breeding ground of terrorists or “terror nursery”.

As per initial assessments, almost 80-90 terrorists were neutralised in these two target areas in the operation. However, the exact number of casualties at the other targeted locations are yet to be disclosed.

Among the facilities targeted under Operation Sindoor were launch pads, training camps, and radicalisation centres operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) — both designated terrorist organisations under United Nations sanctions.

Other JeM-linked locations targeted included Sarjal at Tehra Kalan, Markaz Abbas in Kotli, and Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad.

Markaz Ahle Hadith in Barnala and Shwawai Nalla camp in Muzaffarabad — both tied to the LeT – were also targeted. Hizbul Mujahideen training centres Makaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli and Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot were among the other targets under Operation Sindoor.

Justice is Served: Indian Army

In a statement released on social media post completion of the strikes, the Indian Army shared a video with the caption “Justice is served”. However, Pakistan has claimed that eight of its civilians, including a child, were killed and called the assault a “blatant act of war”.

Pakistan Retaliates: Three civilians killed

Following Operation Sindoor, Pakistani forces launched heavy cross-border shelling along the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian officials said that three civilians were killed. Security forces responded and the exchange of fire is going on as per latest reports.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General has responded to India’s strike on terror targets in its territory and said in a statement that India’s “temporary pleasure will be replaced by enduring grief”.
Pakistan will respond to it at a time and place of its own choosing, the statement of ISPR read, adding that the strikes by India “will not go unanswered”.

India’s strike comes ahead of Nationwide Mock Drill on May 7

India’s strikes come hours before a planned security mock drill across the country for “effective civil defence in the event of a hostile attack”, across 244 districts. The Union Home Ministry has instructed all states to carry out mock drills in view of the “new and complex threats” that have emerged lately.
The mock drills across the country will be conducted on Wednesday, May 7 to evaluate defence preparedness across India’s rural and urban areas. The mock drill will include air raid sirens, blackout protocols, and public training, with officials urging citizens to keep torches, candles, and cash ready.