Key Points:
- Indian armed forces destroyed nine major terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK in a 25-minute operation, killing over 80 terrorists.
- Among the dead: 10 family members and 4 close aides of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, including his elder sister, her husband, his nephew, niece, and five children.
- The main target was the Subhan Allah complex in Bahawalpur, JeM’s headquarters and recruitment hub.
- Indian strikes were precise, avoiding civilian and military sites; no civilian casualties reported.
- Masood Azhar’s own fate remains unconfirmed, but intelligence suggests he may have been present at the time of the strike.
New Delhi: In a dramatic escalation following the Pahalgam terror attack, India’s armed forces launched a coordinated pre-dawn assault-Operation Sindoor-targeting nine high-value terror sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The most significant blow came in Bahawalpur, where the Subhan Allah complex, the ideological and operational nerve center of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), was reduced to rubble.
Major Losses for JeM Leadership
Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar confirmed in a statement that 10 of his family members and four close associates were killed in the strikes. The casualties included his elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, another niece, and five children from his extended family. Trusted aides and his mother were also among the dead. Indian officials estimate 25–30 terrorists were killed at Bahawalpur alone, with similar numbers at Muridke, Lashkar-e-Taiba’s headquarters, and other sites, bringing the total militant deaths to over 80.
Precision Strikes, No Civilian Casualties
The operation, executed between 1:05 and 1:30 am, involved 24 missile strikes and was meticulously planned to avoid civilian and military targets. Indian forces used satellite intelligence to ensure only terror infrastructure was hit, fact-checking and refuting Pakistani claims of civilian casualties. The Subhan Allah campus, spanning 15–18 acres, was a fortified hub for JeM’s recruitment, indoctrination, and command-now left in ruins.
Masood Azhar’s Fate: Still Unclear
Azhar, a UN-designated terrorist and mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, had resurfaced in Bahawalpur in late 2024 after months out of public view. Indian intelligence tracked his movements and believe he may have been present during the strike, but confirmation is awaited as ground-level intelligence is being verified.
India’s Message: Zero Tolerance for Terror
The Indian government emphasized that Operation Sindoor was a focused, non-escalatory response to the Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 people were killed by Pakistan-backed militants. No Pakistani military installations were targeted, and the operation was conducted with “considerable restraint”. Indian officials, including Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, reiterated that India is prepared to respond to any further provocation from Pakistan.
Strategic and Symbolic Impact
The strikes not only crippled JeM’s operational capacity but also delivered a symbolic blow by targeting the family and inner circle of one of the world’s most wanted terrorists. The operation was closely monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who vowed justice for the Pahalgam victims and accountability for those orchestrating cross-border terror.
Operation Sindoor marks a new phase in India’s counter-terror doctrine, signaling a willingness to strike deep into Pakistan’s heartland and hold terror masterminds and their networks to account-wherever they hide.
