India launched precision strikes on nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday. These strikes came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians two weeks ago.
Operation Sindoor Announced
First, the defence ministry made the announcement early on Wednesday. It said the strikes were part of a mission called "Operation Sindoor." Indian forces hit locations used to plan and launch terror attacks against the country.
Moreover, the ministry stated, "Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature." However, it did not share specific details about the targets. It added, "No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution."
Response to Brutal Attack
Earlier, terrorists killed 25 Indians and one Nepali in the Pahalgam attack. Following that tragedy, India vowed to take strong action. The ministry said, "We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable."
Indian Leaders Respond
Shortly after the strikes, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted: "Bharat Mata ki jai (Long live Mother India)."
भारत माता की जय!
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 6, 2025
Similarly, the Indian Army wrote, "#PahalgamTerrorAttack Justice is Served. Jai Hind!"
#PahalgamTerrorAttack
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 6, 2025
Justice is Served.
Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/Aruatj6OfA
Pakistan Condemns the Strikes
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed that India had launched a “cowardly attack on five places.” He said, "Pakistan has every right to give a befitting reply to this act of war imposed by India."
In addition, Pakistan’s foreign ministry described the operation as an “unprovoked and blatant act of war.” It accused the Indian Air Force of using standoff weapons and violating its sovereignty, even though Indian jets stayed inside Indian airspace.
Terror Sites Targeted
According to Pakistan, India struck Muridke and Bahawalpur in Punjab, and Kotli and Muzaffarabad in PoK. These areas are known bases for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Furthermore, sources said that India hit launch pads located 2 to 6 km from the Line of Control (LoC) and terror camps located 8 to 16 km further behind.
Notably, Muridke, near Lahore, houses a large LeT facility, and Bahawalpur is JeM’s main base. Both Kotli and Muzaffarabad have long had training camps for these terror groups.
The operation's name, Sindoor, refers to the red powder Hindu married women wear. Tragically, some victims in the Pahalgam attack were husbands of newlywed women. Among them was an Indian Navy officer who was on his honeymoon.
Pakistan Claims Civilian Deaths
Later, Pakistan alleged that the strikes killed several civilians, including women and children. It also warned that the strikes created a serious risk to commercial air traffic. The ministry said, “We strongly condemn India’s cowardly action, which is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter, international law, and established norms of inter-state relations.”
Moreover, Pakistan accused India of using the Pahalgam attack to create a false narrative of victimhood and to disrupt peace in the region. The statement warned that India’s reckless actions had pushed both countries closer to a major conflict.
As a result, Pakistan’s Prime Minister called a meeting of the National Security Committee, which includes military chiefs, at 10 am.
India Shares Proof With the World
Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Washington said India had strong proof linking Pakistan-based terrorists to the Pahalgam attack. It said the evidence included "credible leads, technical inputs, testimony of the survivors and other evidence."
The embassy added, "It was expected that Pakistan would take action against terrorists and the infrastructure that supports them. Instead, during the fortnight that has gone by, Pakistan has indulged in denial and made allegations of false flag operations against India."
India Informs Global Allies
Soon after the operation, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval spoke with US NSA and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to explain the strikes. In addition, Indian officials updated their counterparts in the UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Russia.
Trump Reacts
At the White House, US President Donald Trump reacted by calling the event a “shame.” He said, "I guess people knew something was gonna happen, based on a little bit of the past. They’ve been fighting for a long time... Now, I just hope it ends very quickly."
Worst Attack in Decades
Notably, the Pahalgam attack was the deadliest civilian attack in Jammu and Kashmir in 20 years. It was also the worst terror strike in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by LeT.
India and Pakistan Exchange Measures
Following the attack, India took several strong steps. It suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, shut the Attari land border, and blamed Pakistan for cross-border terrorism.
In retaliation, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian flights, stopped all trade, and conducted military drills, including missile tests.
Modi Gives Military Full Freedom
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the armed forces full freedom to choose how, when, and where to respond. As a result, Operation Sindoor was carried out with full authority and clear intent.