Indian Army decimated military infra in PoK's Leepa Valley: 'Retaliation was so devastating that ...'

An Indian Army soldier carrying a rocket launcher is pictured near the Line of Control (AFP Photo)

Indian Army completely destroyed all military infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's (PoK) Leepa Valley during the heightened conflict with Pakistan, officials told PTI.

The Chinar Corps of the Army targeted and destroyed at least three posts, an ammunition depot fuel storage facility, and gunnery, among other targets, during the military conflict following the Operation Sindoor strikes, the report said.

Officials estimated that it will take Pakistan at least 8-12 months to rebuild the infrastructure.

"Our retaliation was so devastating that it will take Pakistan at least 8-12 months to rebuild, possibly longer,” a senior Indian Army official told PTI.

Another official revealed that the Pakistan Army had employed heavy weaponry, including aerial platforms, to target Indian positions but failed to inflict any damage.

"Our indigenously developed Akashdeep radar system performed brilliantly while our air defence guns neutralised their aerial platforms. Our military infrastructure remains intact, while the enemy's has been decimated," the second official said.

The action took place when India and Pakistan were engaged in a tense military conflict, that ended in a ceasefire understanding between both the sides. India inflicted heavy damage on several Pakistan air bases and managed to successfully thwart drones and missiles from the neighbour with the help of its state-of-the-art air defence systems.

Army officials told PTI that even though there were empty military structures also present at Leepa Valley, India targeted only those where maximum damage could be inflicted.

"The message was clear – our retaliation follows a 1:3 ratio, meaning the Indian Army will strike three times as hard for every Pakistani ceasefire violation," a top Chinar Corps official said.

Officials also gave details of the 25-minute strike near Muzaffarabad in PoK on May 7 under Operation Sindoor.

They said that the coordinated strikes were so intense that the commander of PoK’s 75th Infantry Brigade urged troops to prioritise saving lives over protecting assets.

"Intercepted communication revealed how a Pakistan army commander, hiding inside a mosque, was instructing troops to save lives first. One message was 'save lives first, offices can reopen later',” a senior Chinar Corps official said.

India demolishes as many as nine terror sites in Pakistan and PoK on May 7 under Operation Sindoor in response to the deadly Pahalgam attack of April 22.

(With inputs from PTI)