The Crossbill Team
In a significant escalation of its counterterrorism strategy, India launched high-precision strikes on nine terror-linked sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early Wednesday morning, May 7.
The retaliatory strikes, codenamed Operation Sindoor, came two weeks after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali national.
A statement released by the Ministry of Defence at 1:44 am confirmed the operation, stating that Indian armed forces targeted “terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.”
The government emphasized that the action was “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military installations targeted.
The Ministry’s official X handle described Operation Sindoor as a calibrated and precise response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
“India has launched Operation Sindoor, a precise and restrained response to the barbaric Pahalgam Terror Attack that claimed 26 lives, including one Nepali citizen. Focused strikes were carried out on nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, targeting the roots of cross-border terror planning.”
It said the operation underscored India’s resolve to bring perpetrators to justice while avoiding unnecessary escalation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have monitored the operation through the night.
Minister of External Affairs of India, S Jaishankar, in a post on X, said, “The world must show zero tolerance for terrorism.”
While the defence ministry did not name the targeted sites or the weapons used, sources suggest the use of long-range precision munitions launched from Indian soil by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with coordinates provided by intelligence agencies.
“Justice is Served. Jai Hind!”, the Indian Army’s X handle posted, again adding no details of the attack.
A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) had been issued Tuesday evening, signalling large-scale air drills along the western border.
According to government sources, four of the nine locations targeted were Bahawalpur and Muridke in Pakistan’s Punjab province, and Muzaffarabad and Kotli in PoK — all known hubs of terrorist activity. Bahawalpur is believed to be the base of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), while Muridke is the historical headquarters of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT), headed by 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Other strikes reportedly took place near Shakargarh and Sialkot, which host terror camps operated by groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and JeM.
The Congress party voiced support for the Indian armed forces, calling the operation a matter of “supreme national interest.”
“India’s commitment to eliminating all sources of terrorism in Pakistan and PoK has necessarily to be uncompromising and always be anchored in the supreme national interest,” Congress said on Wednesday.
Senior leader Jairam Ramesh stated that the Congress stands firmly with our armed forces.
“This is a time for unity and solidarity. Right from the night of April 22nd, the Congress has been categorically stating that the government will have our fullest support in the nation’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack,” he said.
“The Congress is standing firmly with our armed forces,” Ramesh said on X, using the hashtag “Operation Sindoor.”
Across the border, Pakistan’s military reacted sharply. At a press conference held at 4:38 am IST, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry claimed that India had carried out 24 missile strikes on six sites, killing eight civilians, including a three-year-old girl, and injuring 35 others.
He alleged that mosques in Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Muridke were among the structures hit, along with civilian homes and a dispensary. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of targeting civilian areas.
Chaudhry also claimed that the Pakistani Air Force shot down two Indian aircraft over Bhatinda and Akhnoor, with PTV reporting the downing of three Indian jets. However, no evidence or details have been presented, and the Indian Ministry of Defence has not responded to these claims. Social media videos from Pampore and Akhnoor suggest aircraft crashes, but the identities of the planes remain unverified. Some Indian users speculated they may have been Pakistani aircraft.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, responding to a question from reporters, called the developments “a shame” and urged for a swift end to the tensions, referencing the historical conflict between the two nations.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the strikes as a “blatant act of aggression” and a “flagrant violation” of international law. It warned that Pakistan “reserves the right to respond appropriately at a time and place of its choosing,” invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Flights at several Indian airports near the western border, including Srinagar, were suspended on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.
As tensions mount, the situation remains fluid. India maintains its position that the strikes were necessary to hold terror perpetrators accountable, while Pakistan accuses India of provoking war and targeting civilians. A detailed briefing from Indian authorities is expected later in the day.
The retaliatory strikes, codenamed Operation Sindoor, came two weeks after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali national.
A statement released by the Ministry of Defence at 1:44 am confirmed the operation, stating that Indian armed forces targeted “terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.”
The government emphasized that the action was “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military installations targeted.
The Ministry’s official X handle described Operation Sindoor as a calibrated and precise response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
“India has launched Operation Sindoor, a precise and restrained response to the barbaric Pahalgam Terror Attack that claimed 26 lives, including one Nepali citizen. Focused strikes were carried out on nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, targeting the roots of cross-border terror planning.”
It said the operation underscored India’s resolve to bring perpetrators to justice while avoiding unnecessary escalation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have monitored the operation through the night.
Minister of External Affairs of India, S Jaishankar, in a post on X, said, “The world must show zero tolerance for terrorism.”
While the defence ministry did not name the targeted sites or the weapons used, sources suggest the use of long-range precision munitions launched from Indian soil by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with coordinates provided by intelligence agencies.
“Justice is Served. Jai Hind!”, the Indian Army’s X handle posted, again adding no details of the attack.
A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) had been issued Tuesday evening, signalling large-scale air drills along the western border.
According to government sources, four of the nine locations targeted were Bahawalpur and Muridke in Pakistan’s Punjab province, and Muzaffarabad and Kotli in PoK — all known hubs of terrorist activity. Bahawalpur is believed to be the base of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), while Muridke is the historical headquarters of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT), headed by 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Other strikes reportedly took place near Shakargarh and Sialkot, which host terror camps operated by groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and JeM.
The Congress party voiced support for the Indian armed forces, calling the operation a matter of “supreme national interest.”
“India’s commitment to eliminating all sources of terrorism in Pakistan and PoK has necessarily to be uncompromising and always be anchored in the supreme national interest,” Congress said on Wednesday.
Senior leader Jairam Ramesh stated that the Congress stands firmly with our armed forces.
“This is a time for unity and solidarity. Right from the night of April 22nd, the Congress has been categorically stating that the government will have our fullest support in the nation’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack,” he said.
“The Congress is standing firmly with our armed forces,” Ramesh said on X, using the hashtag “Operation Sindoor.”
Across the border, Pakistan’s military reacted sharply. At a press conference held at 4:38 am IST, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry claimed that India had carried out 24 missile strikes on six sites, killing eight civilians, including a three-year-old girl, and injuring 35 others.
He alleged that mosques in Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Muridke were among the structures hit, along with civilian homes and a dispensary. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of targeting civilian areas.
Chaudhry also claimed that the Pakistani Air Force shot down two Indian aircraft over Bhatinda and Akhnoor, with PTV reporting the downing of three Indian jets. However, no evidence or details have been presented, and the Indian Ministry of Defence has not responded to these claims. Social media videos from Pampore and Akhnoor suggest aircraft crashes, but the identities of the planes remain unverified. Some Indian users speculated they may have been Pakistani aircraft.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, responding to a question from reporters, called the developments “a shame” and urged for a swift end to the tensions, referencing the historical conflict between the two nations.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the strikes as a “blatant act of aggression” and a “flagrant violation” of international law. It warned that Pakistan “reserves the right to respond appropriately at a time and place of its choosing,” invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Flights at several Indian airports near the western border, including Srinagar, were suspended on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.
As tensions mount, the situation remains fluid. India maintains its position that the strikes were necessary to hold terror perpetrators accountable, while Pakistan accuses India of provoking war and targeting civilians. A detailed briefing from Indian authorities is expected later in the day.
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