A significant escalation occurred along the Line of Control (LoC) as India executed Operation Sindoor, a coordinated military offensive targeting nine terrorist camps situated in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This operation was a direct response to a deadly terrorist attack that took place on April 22 in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including tourists.
In the wake of India’s military actions, Pakistan unleashed intense shelling along the LoC, resulting in the tragic deaths of 10 civilians and injuring at least 33 others. In light of these developments, Union Home Minister Amit Shah instructed the immediate evacuation of residents from vulnerable forward areas to safer locations in Bakars, underscoring that “civilian safety is India’s top priority.”
The targeted strikes, aimed at camps associated with militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen, spanned critical sites including Muridke, Bahawalpur, Gulpur, Sawai, Bilal Camp, Kotli Camp, Barnala Camp, Sarjal Camp, and Mehmoona Camp. Among the casualties were reported close relatives of Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar, particularly in the Bahawalpur strike.
This operation witnessed the seamless collaboration of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy, and officials described it as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory.” Indian defense sources confirmed that all operational objectives were met successfully, with no reported casualties among Indian personnel.
In response to the Pakistani shelling, the Indian Army retaliated robustly, targeting several enemy positions in the Kupwara and Rajouri-Poonch sectors, reportedly inflicting significant military losses on the opposing forces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the evolving situation, while National Security Advisor Ajit Doval highlighted in a briefing with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the strikes were meticulously aimed at terrorist infrastructure, avoiding civilian, economic, or military assets in Pakistan.
Despite Pakistan’s assertion that six sites were targeted and eight civilians were killed, India has staunchly denied these claims, reaffirming that only recognized terror hubs were engaged in the operation.
As tensions remain high along the LoC, the Indian government is maintaining close coordination with key security agencies and local authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure the safety and preparedness of border populations.
