One year after India’s military launched Operation Sindoor, the coordinated response to a major terror incident in Kashmir continues to stand out as a pivotal shift in the country’s approach to cross-border terrorism. The Ministry of Defence announced early on May 7, 2025, that Indian Armed Forces had struck terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Nine sites were targeted in a focused, measured, and non-escalatory operation that avoided Pakistani military installations.
The sequence began on April 22, 2025, when terrorists from The Resistance Front (TRF), widely viewed as a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, carried out a deadly attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley. The assault in the scenic tourist area killed 26 people, including a Nepali national, after victims were reportedly separated by religion. It was one of the worst terror incidents in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack, sparking widespread outrage in India and international condemnation.
In the immediate aftermath on April 23-24, India downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan. Measures included suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, sealing the Attari-Wagah border, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and halting visas for Pakistani nationals. Naval missile tests and large-scale Indian Air Force exercises were also conducted. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal briefed the media on these steps. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at a rally in Bihar’s Madhubani, pledged to identify, track, and punish terrorists and their supporters. Pakistan responded with reciprocal diplomatic actions, including suspending visas for Indians, closing its airspace to Indian flights, halting trade, and suspending the Simla Agreement.
Tensions mounted further. In his Mann Ki Baat address on April 27, PM Modi expressed national grief over the Pahalgam attack. By April 30, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed Islamabad possessed credible intelligence about impending Indian military action within 24-36 hours.
The Strikes Unfold
In the early hours of May 7, Operation Sindoor commenced from Indian soil in a swift 25-minute window between 1:05 am and 1:30 am. The tri-services operation hit nine terror camps associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen across Pakistan and PoK. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Lt Colonel Sofiya Qureshi later briefed the media, confirming the strikes were based on credible intelligence and designed to spare civilian areas.
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The targeted sites included:
– Shawai Nallah Camp, Muzaffarabad (PoK) – LeT training facility linked to prior attacks.
– Muridke, Pakistan – Major hub where 26/11 attackers were trained.
– Sarjal Camp, Sialkot – LeT facility.
– Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala (PoK) – Weapons and jungle warfare centre.
– Markaz Abbas, Kotli (PoK) – Fidayeen training camp.
– Mehmoona Joya Camp, Sialkot – Hizbul Mujahideen control centre.
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– Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur – JeM headquarters.
– Syedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad – JeM explosives facility.
– Maskar Raheel Shahid Gulpur Camp, Kotli – LeT camp tied to earlier incidents.
Civilian preparedness mock drills took place in cities such as Delhi, Chandigarh, and Varanasi. PM Modi later characterised the operation as establishing a “new normal” in India’s response to terrorism.
Escalation and Response
Pakistan retaliated on the night of May 7-8 with heavy shelling along the Line of Control and attempted drone incursions—nearly 300-400 drones across 36 locations from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat. Indian forces neutralised many using kinetic and non-kinetic means. Pakistani actions killed 16 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, according to Indian officials. Lt Colonel Qureshi noted forensic analysis suggesting Turkish Asisguard Songar drones.
On May 9, following Pakistani attempts on Indian military bases, India carried out further retaliatory strikes. IAF drones destroyed a Chinese-origin HQ-9 system in Lahore and hit other sites. India’s air defences, including the S-400, intercepted incoming threats. The BSF also destroyed a terror launch pad.
A ceasefire understanding was reached on May 10 after DGMO-level talks, effective from 5 pm IST. However, reports of explosions soon followed in Srinagar, prompting a strong reaction from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Blackouts were imposed in several border areas. Indian accounts indicated 35-40 Pakistani military personnel killed, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh later stated over 100 terrorists were eliminated. Pakistan reported 11 soldiers killed and 78 injured.
On May 12, PM Modi addressed the nation, dedicating the operation to the country’s mothers and sisters. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi later described the military phase as an 88-hour campaign. One year on, the suspended Indus Waters Treaty remains in place, underscoring India’s stance that terror and talks cannot coexist. The operation is widely regarded as having reshaped New Delhi’s counter-terrorism posture.
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