A Big Day As India Retaliates Following The Pahalgam Attack, 9 Targets Hit During ‘Operation Sindoor’

Indeed, it’s a very big day for us as on early Wednesday morning, the Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on nine terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. These targets included places like Muridke and Bahawalpur, known to be strongholds of terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The attacks happened at 1:44 a.m. and were a response to a terrorist attack that took place on April 22 in Pahalgam, in Jammu & Kashmir’s Anantnag district. That attack killed 26 people — 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen. India’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the strikes, saying they were aimed at terrorist infrastructure — places used to plan and carry out attacks on India. The statement also said that India took care to avoid hitting any Pakistani military sites, and that the strikes were carefully planned to avoid making the situation worse.

The Ministry said these strikes were part of India’s promise to punish those behind the deadly April 22 attack. These strikes took place just before a country-wide security drill meant to prepare people for emergency situations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India will find and punish those responsible for the attack, no matter where they are. Seventy terrorists were killed when India launched 24 missile strikes on nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. This action was taken to take revenge for the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir

India’s strikes on nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were based on strong intelligence that showed these places were actively helping terrorists attack India, according to counter-terrorism officials. Terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen have been secretly supported by the Pakistan Army and its intelligence agency, ISI. This support includes money, weapons, training, and help with planning attacks. Officials also said that Pakistani army officers often visit these terrorist training camps and even supervise the training.

To avoid being noticed by the international community, these terror groups have changed their names to things like The Resistance Front (TRF), People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), and Kashmir Tigers (KT). They try to make it look like they are local fighters, not terrorists backed by Pakistan. Many of these camps are hidden near army bases and inside government buildings, such as clinics and health centers. Some of the places that were targeted by India in “Operation Sindoor” were training camps disguised as health units or primary health centers.

Terrorist groups have been given advanced military communication tools. Some places, like Sarjal–Tehra Kalan, have high-powered communication systems that help these groups plan attacks and stay in touch with terrorists who have crossed into India, officials said.

These groups also receive help with things like spreading their message, raising money, and recruiting new members. This is happening with support from institutions inside Pakistan. For example, Markaz Taiba in Muridke (linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba) and Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur (linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed) are key centers. These places are not only homes for top terrorist leaders but also serve as training centers where people are taught extreme beliefs and how to use weapons and gather intelligence.

Leaders from these groups often give speeches at these locations. One example is when JeM leader Masood Azhar gave a strong anti-India speech at Markaz Subhan Allah in December 2024. There are also camps like Syedna Bilal and Shawai Nallah in Muzaffarabad, and Raheel Shahid in Kotli, where Pakistan Army’s special forces (SSG) train terrorists in jungle warfare and guerrilla fighting, according to officials.

Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur

Since 2015, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has been running its main training and planning center. This place is where they train new recruits and spread extremist ideas. It also acts as the group’s headquarters and was involved in planning the deadly Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019. Top JeM leaders, including Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, and Maulana Ammar, live at this facility. Masood Azhar has given many speeches here encouraging young people to join jihad against India. The camp regularly holds weapons training, physical exercises, and religious teaching.

Markaz Taiba, Muridke

Markaz Taiba, built in 2000 in Nangal Sahdan, Muridke (Punjab, Pakistan), is the main training center for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). It trains people in weapons use and extremist ideology. Every year, around 1,000 students take part in different courses. Osama bin Laden is said to have helped fund the mosque and guesthouse inside the center. This facility trained the terrorists involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, including Ajmal Kasab, and was visited by conspirators like David Headley and Tahawwur Rana.

Sarjal / Tehra Kalan

This Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp is in Tehra Kalan village, in Shakargarh Tehsil, Narowal District, Punjab, Pakistan. It operates from a Primary Health Centre (PHC) and is located about 6 km from the India-Pakistan border near the Samba sector in Jammu & Kashmir.

The camp is used for digging tunnels, flying drones, and smuggling weapons and drugs into India. Senior JeM leaders like Mohammad Adnan Ali (also known as “Doctor”) and Kashif Jan often visit this place. The camp is managed by Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar.

Mehmoona Joya Facility, Sialkot

This Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) camp is inside a government health center in Bhutta Kotli, Head Marala, Sialkot District, Pakistan. It is used to send terrorists into Jammu. Around 20 to 25 fighters stay there at a time and are trained in using weapons and planning attacks. The camp is led by Mohammad Irfan Khan, also known as Irfan Tanda, who has been connected to several attacks in the Jammu area.

Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala, Bhimber

This Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) camp is located on Kote Jamel Road, near Barnala. It is used to send terrorists and weapons into the Poonch–Rajouri–Reasi areas in Jammu & Kashmir. The camp can hold 100 to 150 fighters and is used to prepare for attacks. LeT members like Qasim Gujjar (also known as Mahrore), Qasim Khanda, and Anas Jarar work from this camp, under the supervision of senior leaders.

Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli

This Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) camp can hold 150 to 200 militants. It is used to train them in using weapons, sniping, cross-border attacks (BAT actions), and survival skills in the mountains. This is one of HM’s oldest active camps in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK).

Shawai Nallah Camp, Muzaffarabad

This Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) camp, also called Bait-ul-Mujahideen, is near the Chelabandi Bridge on the Muzaffarabad–Neelum Road. It has been active since the early 2000s. The camp trains new recruits in things like religious teachings, physical fitness, using GPS, and handling weapons. The attackers involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks trained here. The camp can hold 200 to 250 militants and is used to prepare for operations targeting North Kashmir.

Markaz Syedna Bilal

This Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp is located opposite the Red Fort in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). It is the main camp for JeM in the area and is used as a stopover for militants before they enter Jammu & Kashmir. The camp usually holds 50 to 100 fighters. Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri leads the camp, and it is also used by the Indian fugitive Aashiq Nengroo and JeM commander Abdullah Jehadi (also known as Abdullah Kashmiri). Pakistani Army’s special forces (SSG) train militants at this camp.