Terror hubs that trained Ajmal Kasab and David Headley: Inside the 9 camps destroyed in Operation Sindoor

In a powerful retaliation to the Pahalgam terror massacre, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor—a precision military offensive that struck at the very heart of Pakistan-backed terrorism. The operation targeted nine high-value terror training camps and infrastructure nodes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and across the international border in Pakistan.

More than a conventional reprisal, Operation Sindoor was a message: India would not allow its citizens to be massacred without decisive retaliation. The operation focused on legacy terror hubs, some of which have historically played a key role in training and radicalizing operatives like Ajmal Kasab (of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks), David Coleman Headley (who helped scout targets for the same), and many other Pakistan-sponsored jihadists over the decades.

Markaz Subhan Allah, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan

Markaz Subhan Allah is located on the outskirts of Bahawalpur at Karachi Mor, and is the main centre of Jaish-e-Mohammed for training and indoctrination of youth which is spread over a 15-acre area.

This Markaz serves as the operational headquarter of JeM and associated with terrorist plannings including Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019. Perpetrators of Pulwama attack were trained at this camp. The Markaz also consists of residences of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar, de-facto Chief of JeM Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar and other family members.

Azhar said that 10 of his family members and his four close associates were killed in the Operation Sindoor. According to news agency PTI, masood’s family members were in Markaz Subhan Allah.

JeM conducts regular arms, physical and religious training for its cadres at Markaz Subhan Allah. Senior JeM functionaries such as Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar (de-facto head, JeM) and other brothers of Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of JeM and his brother-in-law, Yusuf Azhar @ Ustad Ghouri, head of JeM’s (armed) wing reside in this premises.

Besides the residences of these important JeM functionaries, the complex also houses more than 600 cadres. Maulana Rafiqullah, former religious trainer at Markaz Usman-o-Ali is chief instructor at this Markaz since mid-2022.

Markaz Taiba, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Muridke, Punjab

This sprawling complex is the ideological, logistical, and operational nerve center of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Located on the outskirts of Lahore, the Markaz has long served as the hub for recruitment, religious indoctrination, and strategic planning. This markaz serves as mushrooming ground for radicalisation of students to motivate them to join armed jihad.

According to intelligence dossiers and testimonies, Ajmal Kasab, along with other perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, was radicalised and trained at this facility.

David Coleman Headly and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the prime conspirators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had visited Muridke along with Abdul Rehman Sayed Pasha, Haroon and Khurram (co-conspirators) on instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

Other than these ideologues, Hafiz Saeed and other terror entities of LeT, including Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi, have houses in this facility. They regularly visit to supervise the radicalisation activities being conducted from this Markaz. Pertinently, this Markaz is considered fountainhead for LeT terrorism.

Sarjal/Tehra Kalan facility, JeM, Shakargarh, District Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan

This is the main launching site of Jaish-e-Mohammed for infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir and is located inside the premises of a primary health centre in Tehra kalan village of Sarjal area.

This JeM facility holds special prominence due to its close proximity of around six km from IB in Samba Sector of Jammu, J&K. It serves as the base for the digging of cross-border tunnels for infiltration of terrorists. The facility also serves as the launching base for drones by which arms/ammunition/narcotics and warlike stores are dropped into Indian territory.

JeM terrorist commanders Mohammad Adnan Ali alias Doctor and Kashif Jan regularly visit this JeM’s facility. Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, de-facto chief of JeM, supervises operations of JeM through operatives based at this facility.

Mehmoona Joya Facility, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Head Marala, Sialkot

Mehmoona Joya facility of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) is located near Kotli Bhutta Govt. Hospital in Head Marala area of Sialkot District of Punjab, Pakistan. This facility is used for infiltration of HM cadres into Jammu region of J&K. HM cadres are also given training for terrorist operations and handling of weapons by the senior commanders at this facility.

Mohd. Irfan Khan alias Irfan Tanda is commander of this HM facility. Irfan Tanda has been involved in carrying out several attacks in Jammu region, especially in capital city of Jammu, particularly series of blasts carried out by Irfan Tanda on 26 Jan 1995 in Maulana Azad Stadium of Jammu leaving 08 persons dead and 50 injured.

Despite USA declaring (June 2017) HM chief & Chairman of United Jihad Council (UJC), Syed Salahuddin a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and the proscribing of HM outfit by USA (August 2017) and European Union (Nov 2005), the organisation is continuing to openly use its facilities like the Mehmoona facility to carry out terrorist training/activities in Pak/PoK and in order to execute terrorist operations in India.

Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Bhimber District, PoJK

Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala is one of the important Markaz of LeT in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and is used for infiltration of LeT terrorists and arms/ammunition into Poonch – Rajauri - Reasi sector.

The facility can accommodate 100-150 cadres and around 40–50 cadres are usually present at this Markaz. It is also utilized as staging centre for LeT terrorists before infiltrating into Indian territory.

LeT terror operatives Qasim Gujjar alias Mahrore, Qasim Khanda, Anas Jarar operate from this Markaz and reside in its vicinity. Khubaib alias Mohd Amin Butt also visits this Markaz regularly. Qasim Gujjar and Khubaib have been designated under UA(P)Act by Indian Government.

Markaz Abbas, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Kotli

Hafiz Abdul Shakoor alias Qari Zarrar is the head of this Markaz. Qari Zarrar is a Shura member of JeM Council. Qari Zarrar is one of the founding members of JeM and part of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) terrorists who had left HuM and founded JeM along with Maulana Masood Azhar.

Qari Zarrar is directly involved in planning and execution of terrorist attacks in J&K. Qari Zarrar is wanted accused by NIA for attack on Indian Army Camp near Baleeni Bridge, Nagrota, Jammu on Nov 29, 2016. He is also involved in fund raising for JeM through his contacts in Afghanistan.

Maskar Raheel Shahid, Hizbul-Mujahideen, Kotli, PoJK

Located in PoK’s Kotli district, Maskar Raheelk Shahid is one of the oldest facilities of Hizbul Mujahideen. It can accommodate around 150–200 HM terrorists. Around 25–30 terrorists are usually present at this facility supervising terrorist activities being organised at this camp.

HM head Syed Salahuddin used to himself welcome newly recruited terrorist cadres at this facility and supervise training activities being held here.

At present, the camp is being supervised by one Abu Maaz, who along with Abdul Rehman imparts training, especially to HM terrorists who participate in BAT actions targeting Indian security forces deployed at the border.

Shawai Nallah Camp, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Muzaffarabad, PoJK

Shawai Nallah Camp is one of the most important camps of LeT and is used for recruitment, registration and training of LeT cadres. This camp has been functional since early 2000.

It has a large accommodation for LeT cadres along with residences for LeT terrorist commanders and instructors. This facility is used as base camp for imparting Daura-e-Aam training, which includes religious indoctrination, physical training, tactical training regarding use of GPS, map reading and arms training for rifles and grenades. LeT head Hafiz Saeed used to welcome new inductees to this camp on their arrival. After completion of initial training at this camp, cadres are sent to other LeT camps for further terrorist training.

Shawai Nallah Camp is also used from time to time to organize specialized weapons training for LeT cadres. LeT has been using this camp for organizing refresher courses for its already trained commanders/cadres. Pak-ISI also facilitates holding trainings at this camp by providing trainers of Pak Army to provide weapons training to LeT terrorists.

Pertinently, Ajmal Kasab and other terrorists involved in 26/11 had undergone training in this camp. This camp forms a very important infrastructure for initial indoctrination and training of LeT terrorists.

Syedna Bilal Markaz, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Muzaffarabad, PoJK

This is the main centre of JeM in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and is used as a transit camp for JeM terrorists prior to their launching into Jammu and Kashmir. At any point of time, 50-100 cadres reside in this facility. Additionally, training by Pakistani Special Forces, SSG, is imparted here, as indicted from the photographs retrieved from phones of killed JeM terrorists.

JeM operational commander and JeM head of PoJK, Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri is in-charge of the facility. Abdullah Jehadi alias Abdullah Kashmiri and Aashiq Nengroo (Indian Fugitive) also operate from this centre. Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Abdullah Jehadi are wanted accused in Nagrota Attack, 2016 as they had planned and executed the Nagrota attack in which terrorists entered into the Army Camp at Nagrota, near the Baleeni Bridge and started indiscriminate firing upon the army personnel. The selection of cadres to carry out Nagrota attack at this facility.

With Operation Sindoor, India has altered the rules of engagement. No longer will proxy war be met with just diplomatic notes. Each terrorist strike, like the Pahalgam massacre, will be met with precise military retaliation targeting the roots, not just the branches.