Key Points:
- Indian Army confirms 21 terror hideouts-including major Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba camps-destroyed in Pakistan and PoK under Operation Sindoor.
- Strikes were a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
- No Pakistani civilian or military sites were targeted; operation was “measured and non-escalatory.”
- India warns of readiness to respond if provoked, but will not escalate further on its own.
- Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh led the press briefing, symbolizing India’s resolve and honoring victims’ families.
New Delhi:In a detailed press conference, the Indian Army and Ministry of External Affairs announced the destruction of 21 terrorist hideouts-including key training camps and headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and other outfits-in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor. This decisive action was taken in direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead, including tourists and a Navy officer.
Precision, Restraint, and Justice
Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, representing the Army and Air Force, emphasized that the operation was meticulously planned to avoid civilian and military targets in Pakistan, strictly focusing on terror infrastructure. Intelligence inputs ensured only camps directly linked to cross-border attacks were struck, including infamous sites where attackers like Kasab and Headley were trained.
The Army described the strikes as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” underlining that India will not further escalate unless provoked. However, the armed forces remain fully prepared to respond to any further aggression from Pakistan.
Symbolic Leadership and National Message
The choice of two decorated women officers to lead the briefing was deliberate, reflecting both India’s resolve and a tribute to the families-especially the widows-of those killed in Pahalgam. The operation, India’s first tri-services mission since 1971, was executed entirely from Indian territory using advanced precision munitions, sending a clear message against terrorism while upholding restraint and responsibility.
Strategic Impact
Operation Sindoor marks a significant escalation in India’s counter-terror doctrine, targeting the backbone of Pakistan’s terror infrastructure while avoiding civilian harm and signaling India’s readiness to defend its citizens and values-firmly, but without unnecessary escalation.
