In a decisive and meticulously planned retaliation, the Indian Air Force launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), including the main headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Bahawalpur, Punjab. This operation was a direct response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bahawalpur, Pakistan’s 12th largest city, was chosen for its strategic importance as the nerve centre of JeM’s terror infrastructure. The targeted site, known as Markaz Subhan Allah or Usman-o-Ali campus which functioned as a full-fledged training and indoctrination facility for jihadists since 2011, supported covertly by JeM front organizations and allegedly with tacit backing from Pakistan’s ISI due to its proximity to a major military cantonment.
Indian fighter jets executed precision missile strikes at around 1:44 AM, completely destroying the Bahawalpur complex along with other terror hideouts in Muridke, Sialkot, Kotli and Muzaffarabad. The strikes eliminated over 80 terrorists, including key operatives linked to multiple attacks on India, such as the 2019 Pulwama bombing planned from this very facility.
The operation showcased India’s enhanced intelligence capabilities, with exact coordinates provided by Indian agencies ensuring no civilian casualties. The destruction of Jaish’s headquarters dealt a severe blow to the terror outfit’s operational capacity and sent a strong message of India’s resolve to counter cross-border terrorism decisively.
As per the news sources of BBC, India’s actions were precise, controlled and aimed at avoiding escalation. No Pakistani military bases were targeted. The choice of targets and execution methods reflected significant restraint, focusing solely on terrorist infrastructure linked to attacks against India. Operation Sindoor stands as one of the most significant cross-border retaliations since the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, reaffirming India’s commitment to national security and its zero-tolerance policy against terror groups targeting Indian soil.
