In a decisive military move to avenge the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of coordinated and precise airstrikes across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation, conducted in the early hours of Wednesday, marks the most expansive cross-border military response since the 2019 Balakot strikes, inflicting heavy damage on major terror training and indoctrination centres run by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
According to high-resolution satellite imagery obtained by Maxar Technologies, key facilities in Bahawalpur and Muridke, known strongholds of Pakistan-based jihadist outfits, were obliterated. These images reveal the clinical accuracy of the Indian strikes. At JeM’s primary training facility, Markaz Subhan Allah, three domes of a large mosque were precisely targeted and destroyed, while two others were left untouched. Additionally, over 2,100 square meters of surrounding buildings were reduced to rubble.
Markaz Subhan Allah, which spans 15 acres in Bahawalpur, is JeM’s epicentre for the training, indoctrination, and operational planning of terrorists. Notably, this camp is believed to have trained operatives involved in the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, a fact reiterated by Indian government sources.
The Indian Air Force is reported to have used HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) smart bombs and SCALP missiles, which boast ranges of 70 km and 250+ km respectively. These weapons allowed India to hit targets with precision while avoiding collateral damage and civilian casualties, underscoring the operation’s “measured and focused” nature as emphasised by the government.
Another major target was Markaz Taiba, the sprawling 82-acre headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke, Punjab. Satellite images confirmed that significant structures within the compound—including a mosque and guest house allegedly financed by Osama bin Laden—were heavily damaged. This facility is known to host the Suffah Academy, a radicalisation centre where both male and female cadres receive indoctrination and arms training.
Muridke has long been under international scrutiny. It is where 26/11 Mumbai attackers, including Ajmal Kasab, were trained. Conspirators David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana also visited this facility during the planning phase of the attacks.
In total, nine terror facilities across Pakistan and PoK were struck during the 25-minute blitz, eliminating over 80 terrorists affiliated with JeM, LeT, and Hizbul Mujahideen. India clarified that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted, reinforcing that the strikes were retaliatory, not escalatory. Operation Sindoor sends a clear message: India will no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism and will act with precision and resolve to defend its citizens.
