The Indian armed forces provided a comprehensive account of Operation Sindoor, their precision strike against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre.
At a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh outlined how coordinated Army, Navy, and Air Force assets neutralised nine terror sites—four in Pakistan proper and five in PoK—while avoiding civilian harm and avoiding military facilities.
Colonel Qureshi described the five PoK camps destroyed by the operation. She said the Shawai Nallah camp in Muzaffarabad served as a Lashkar-e-Taiba training ground for militants who later carried out attacks in Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
The Syedna Bilal camp, also in Muzaffarabad, was identified as a Jaish-e-Mohammed staging area where recruits received weapons and jungle warfare training. Gulpur camp in Kotli, about 30 kilometres from the Line of Control, housed LeT operatives responsible for the 2023 Poonch ambush and the 2024 pilgrimage bus attack, while Barnala camp in Bhimber specialised in improvised explosive device assembly and survival tactics. A second Kotli facility, just 13 kilometres from the LoC, trained up to 15 LeT fedayeen in close-quarters assaults.
Wing Commander Singh explained that the operation’s targets were selected exclusively on credible intelligence to dismantle the infrastructure of JeM and LeT leaders who planned cross-border attacks. She emphasised that precision munitions—ranging from loitering drones to SCALP and Hammer missiles—were deployed from Indian soil between 1.05 am and 1.30 am to minimise collateral damage.
“Operation Sindoor was launched to deliver justice for the victims of the Pahalgam atrocity,” she said.
“Our actions were focused, measured and non-escalatory, with civilian lives and infrastructure deliberately protected.”
Foreign Secretary Misri framed the strikes as both necessary and proportionate. Describing the Pahalgam attack as “barbaric”—with 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali killed in close-range executions—he said intelligence warnings of further plots made a swift response imperative.
“We had to deter and prevent additional terror strikes,” he said.
“India exercised its right to self-defence through precise, responsible action that targeted only terrorist camps.”
While India maintained restraint, Pakistan condemned the operation as unprovoked aggression and reportedly fired artillery across the LoC within hours. The Indian Army has responded “in a calibrated manner,” according to a statement from the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, which noted that Pakistan’s ceasefire violations only underscored the need for vigilance against cross-border terrorism.
Analysts say Operation Sindoor marks a significant evolution in India’s counter-terror doctrine, blending joint-service coordination with surgical accuracy. By striking only non-military sites tied to extremist networks, New Delhi has sought to balance the imperative of retaliation with the risk of wider escalation between two nuclear-armed neighbours. International observers welcomed India’s focus on civilian safety but urged both countries to resume diplomatic channels and prevent further clashes.
In the wake of PoK strikes, New Delhi’s next steps remain under review. Indian Defence Ministry officials indicated that intelligence agencies will continue monitoring known terror facilitators, and further operations may be planned if threats persist. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who oversaw the operation from the National Security Council, reiterated India’s commitment to eliminating safe havens for militants who target civilians.
As the dust settles on ‘Operation Sindoor’, families of Pahalgam victims have expressed cautious relief. For many, the destruction of camps where attackers were trained brings a measure of accountability, even as questions linger over the prospect of renewed tit-for-tat crossings of the Line of Control.
In the tense aftermath, India’s security establishment has signalled that precision strike capability will remain a central pillar of its counter-terrorism strategy—one that aims to safeguard civilians, deter future plots and compel Pakistan to act against militant groups on its soil.
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