In a calibrated military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian armed forces on early Wednesday launched “focused and precise” missile strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). The attack, named “Operation Sindoor”, targeted infrastructure linked to three major terror outfits: Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen.

One of the most significant targets was the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur, located around 100 km from the international border. The town is widely considered the nerve centre of JeM operations and has been under Indian radar since the Pulwama attack in 2019.

Another major strike hit Muridke, 30 km from the India-Pakistan border opposite Samba. The location is known for housing a Lashkar-e-Taiba facility directly linked to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The armed forces also struck deep inside POK. In the Tangdhar sector, missiles hit the Sawai camp — an LeT hub linked to a series of high-profile attacks, including Sonmarg (October 20, 2024), Gulmarg (October 24, 2024), and the recent Pahalgam ambush.

Gulpur, 35 km from the Line of Control in the Poonch-Rajauri belt, was also targeted. Intelligence inputs suggest its role in both the April 2023 ambush on Indian soldiers in Poonch and the June 2024 attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims.

The Indian action covered a wide geographical span:

• BAHAWALPUR: 100 Km from International Boundary (JeM Headquarters)
• MURIDKE: 30 Km from border, opposite Samba (LeT camp linked to 26/11 Mumbai attacks)
• GULPUR: 35 Km from LoC, Poonch-Rajauri (linked to 2023 Poonch attack and 2024 bus attack on pilgrims)
• SAWAI: 30 Km inside Pak-Occupied Kashmir (linked to Sonmarg attack, Gulmarg attack and recent Pahalgam attack)
• BILAL CAMP: JeM launchpad
• KOTLI CAMP: 15 Km from LoC, opposite Rajauri (LeT bomber camp)
• BARNALA CAMP: 10 Km from LoC, opposite Rajauri
• SARJAL CAMP: 8 Km from IB, opposite Samba-Kathua (JeM camp)
• MEHMOONA CAMP: 15 Km from IB, near Sialkot (Hizbul Mujahideen training Camp)

The military strikes were carried out under Operation Sindoor, the Defence Ministry said in a statement at 1.44 am. It said the actions by the Indian armed forces were “focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature”.

Sources told India Today TV that the strikes on all nine targets were successful and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was monitoring Operation Sindoor closely.