Operation Sindoor

 ‘Operation Sindoor’ is the name given by the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy & Air Force) to their recent military action targeting terrorist infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, 2025. 

This operation was initiated in response to the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22nd, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national.

The primary goal of Operation Sindoor was to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and neutralize terrorists who were planning and directing attacks against India.

In contrast to previous military operations with aggressive titles which intended to show power, the name of this operation was selected as a personal homage to the victims, notably the widows of the Pahalgam assault. 

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi oversaw the Indian government's briefing on the operation.  


Terror Hubs Targeted in Operation Sindoor


The Indian military conducted precision strikes on at least nine locations. These included areas in Pakistan such as Bahawalpur and Muridke, as well as places within PoK, like Muzaffarabad and Kotli.

These sites were identified as key training and operational hubs for terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Following the 1999 release of Masood Azhar after the IC-814 hijacking, Bahawalpur became the central hub for the Jeish-e-Mohammed (JeM). 

This group, founded in January 2000 by the now-unseen global terrorist Azhar (last publicly sighted in April 2019), has been implicated in numerous terror attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2000 Jammu & Kashmir Assembly strike, the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Meanwhile, Muridke, located 30 km from Lahore, has served as the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) since 1990. 

This UN-designated terror group, headed by India's most wanted Hafiz Saeed, was responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and has conducted strikes in various Indian locations, including Jammu & Kashmir, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.

Indian military employed Rafale jets with high-precision weapons like SCALP Cruise Missiles (Storm Shadow), HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) Precision-Guided Bombs, METEOR, BRAHMOS and Loitering Munitions (Kamikaze drones) during the Operation Sindoor. 

The operation lasted for approximately 23 minutes.


Pakistan's Reaction & International Response


Pakistan has condemned the strikes as an 'act of war,' claiming that civilians, including women and children, were killed. They have threatened to retaliate.

Several countries and international bodies have called for restraint and de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.

The US has even advised its citizens in Lahore to leave the area due to potential airspace violations and security concerns. China has also called for peace and stability.

 Sweden has issued a travel warning for Pakistan in light of the recent events.


Current Situation 


The situation following ‘Operation Sindoor’ remains highly tense and is evolving rapidly.  

Civil defense mock drills were conducted in various cities in India to prepare for potential escalation.   

Pakistan has reportedly intensified its unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC), particularly in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. 

This has resulted in casualties, with reports indicating at least 13 people killed in these ceasefire violations today.

India is reportedly responding with equal intensity to the Pakistani firing.  

There are reports that the Indian armed forces have targeted air defense radars and systems at several locations inside Pakistan today.

A significant no. of airports (around 21-27) across North India, including Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, and even Delhi, are reportedly shut for commercial operations until May 10th due to the heightened tensions and airspace concerns.

Punjab's Gurdaspur district has enforced a complete nightly blackout from 9 PM to 5 AM under the Defence of India Act.

The Indian government held an all-party meeting where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefed opposition leaders on Operation Sindoor. 

He stated that approximately 100 terrorists were killed in the strikes, though the final count is still being ascertained. 

Opposition parties have pledged their full support to the government.


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