Patna: In the wake of the devastating Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives on April 22, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised an unprecedented response. Addressing the nation during a government event in Madhubani, Bihar, on April 24, he vowed, “अब आतंकियों की बची-खुची जमीन को भी मिट्टी में मिलाने का समय आ गया है”. These words resonated throughout the country, a promise that has now been fulfilled with today’s military strikes.
On May 7, 2025, just two weeks after the deadly attack, India launched Operation Sindoor — a massive military operation involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The operation, lasting just 25 minutes, saw 24 precision missile strikes targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes, carried out in the early hours of the morning, reportedly killed over 70 militants, with several more injured.
The targets of the operation were key strongholds of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, including notorious locations in Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, and Neelum Valley. These sites had long been identified by Indian intelligence agencies as hubs for training, recruitment, and launching attacks against India.
Vikram Misri, India’s Foreign Secretary, briefed the media, stating that the operation was a “measured and proportionate” response to the Pahalgam attack, which was attributed to Pakistan-based terror groups. “Our actions were focused on dismantling the infrastructure that fuels cross-border terrorism,” Misri said, emphasising that no Pakistani military installations were targeted in the strikes.
In addition to the military response, India also announced diplomatic measures aimed at isolating Pakistan further, including halting cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty, reducing diplomatic staff, and cancelling visas for Pakistani nationals.
