In the wee hours of Wednesday, Indian armed forces launched precision strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor', the attacks are learnt to have dealt a crushing blow to Pakistan-backed terror as the locations targeted include those where terrorist attacks against India were planned and directed.
A total of nine sites were hit in the operation carried out by the armed forces against terrorist infrastructure. Of them, four are in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The targets in Pakistan include Bahawalpur, Muridke and Sialkot, news agency ANI quoted sources as saying.
India's response came in the aftermath of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 that saw armed terrorists gun down 26 civilians, mostly tourists. The attackers were linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a proscribed terror group that is believed to have received logistical and financial support from the government of Pakistan.
Operation Sindoor: The weapons Indian forces used
The precision strikes at terror camps in Pakistan and PoK were carried out in a joint operation by the armed forces. As per sources, a suite of high-precision, long-range strike weapons were used in the operation. These included the SCALP cruise missile, the HAMMER precision bomb and loitering ammunition, they said.
SCALP (Storm Shadow)
Also known as Storm Shadow, the SCALP missile is a long-range, air-launched cruise missile with a range of over 250 kilometres. It is designed for deep-strike capabilities.
HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range)
The HAMMER smart bomb was used to strike reinforced bunkers and multi-storey buildings that were being used as training and logistical centres by terror groups like Lashkar and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The HAMMER is a precision-guided, standoff munition capable of striking targets in the range of 50-70 kilometres, depending on launch altitude.
Loitering Munitions
Loitering munitions or "kamikaze drones" were deployed for surveillance, target acquisition, and terminal strike roles. These drone systems hover over target areas and either autonomously or under remote control identify and eliminate threats.
Terror infrastructure identified and hit
Indian forces carried out strikes on nine different sites under Operation Sindoor, Ministry of Defence said in a statement, adding that no Pakistani military or civilian installations were targeted. Instead, all sites were selected based on their verified use as operational centres by banned terrorist groups.
Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur (JeM) - Identified as the ideological and operational headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, this location has hosted senior cadre training sessions for several years.
Markaz Taiba, Muridke (LeT) - A 200-acre compound used by Lashkar-e-Taiba for indoctrination, logistics, and planning. It was one of the most fortified targets hit in the operation.
Markaz Abbas, Kotli (JeM) - This camp served as a hub for suicide bomber training and weapons distribution for POK-based terrorists.
Syedna Bilal and Shawai Nalla camps, Muzaffarabad (JeM and LeT) - These were used as infiltration points and training facilities for sleeper cells.
Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala (LeT) - This functioned as a support facility and regional logistics hub.
Sarjal, Tehra Kalan (JeM) - This site was used as a pre-infiltration camp for newly recruited terrorists.
Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot (HM) - A lesser-known Hizbul Mujahideen training centre, still active despite the group's declining footprint in the Kashmir Valley.
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