NEW DELHI: Over 80 terrorists were killed in a series of precision strikes carried out by Indian armed forces on terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) early on Wednesday, top security sources said.
The cross-border action, dubbed Operation Sindoor, targeted nine facilities linked to banned terrorist outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen, in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead.
According to senior officials, the two biggest strikes were conducted in JeM stronghold Bahawalpur and Muridke, killing an estimated 25–30 terrorists at each site. In Muridke, the target was Masjid wa Markaz Taiba, the LeT’s nerve centre and ideological headquarters, long considered the “terror nursery” of Pakistan.
Intelligence agencies are still verifying the number of casualties at the other targeted locations. Initial assessments suggest that between 80 and 90 terrorists were neutralised in total.
Among the facilities hit were launch pads, training camps, and radicalisation centres operated by JeM and LeT — both of which are designated terrorist organisations under United Nations sanctions.
In a post-strike statement, the Indian Army released a video on X with the message “Justice is served”. Meanwhile, Pakistan said eight civilians, including a child, were killed and called the assault a “blatant act of war”.
Other JeM-linked locations targeted included Sarjal at Tehra Kalan, Markaz Abbas in Kotli, and Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad. Markaz Ahle Hadith in Barnala and Shwawai Nalla camp in Muzaffarabad — both tied to the LeT – were also struck. Hizbul Mujahideen training centres Makaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli and Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot were among the other targets.
Four of the nine sites were located inside Pakistan, while the remaining five were in POK. Officials clarified that no Pakistani military installations were targeted, although elements of the Pakistani Army, ISI, and Special Services Group (SSG) were allegedly involved in supporting the terrorist training infrastructure.
Following the strikes, Pakistani forces launched heavy cross-border shelling along the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian officials said that three civilians were killed. Security forces responded in kind, and the exchange of fire was ongoing as per latest reports.
