India hit 9 terror camps deep in PoK and Punjab. One was Kasab’s

medium120969689Nearly two weeks after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were brutally killed, the Indian armed forces launched a meticulously planned retaliatory operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, in the early hours of May 7.In a precisely calibrated 25-minute window between 1.05am and 1.30am, Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets and precision-strike drones unleashed a storm of firepower on nine high-value terror camps spread across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).The operation was a direct message — that India would not allow the slaughter of its civilians to go unanswered.These camps were not random targets. They belonged to some of the most notorious anti-India terrorist outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). For decades, these camps thrived under the protective umbrella of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and military establishment, functioning as the breeding grounds of cross-border terrorism. Operation Sindoor aimed to rip apart this network. medium120988147The decision to launch the operation followed a meticulous intelligence build-up, tracing the Pahalgam attackers to these terror hubs. According to intelligence inputs, the nine targeted sites were identified as critical nodes in the terror network. The operation’s timing — a swift 25-minute strike — was designed to achieve maximum impact with minimal risk.The targeted terror hubs included:Markaz Taiba, Muridke, near Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan: Located just 25km from the international border, this sprawling 82-acre complex is the nerve centre of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Built with funds that included a donation of Pak Rs 10mn from Osama bin Laden, it has trained terrorists including the 26/11 attackers such as Ajmal Kasab, and hosted David Headley. It is a self-sustaining facility with a madrassa, market, sports complex, and even a fish farm.Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan: The JeM’s primary hub, located 100km from the international border. It is not just a training centre but a symbol of JeM’s impunity. Masood Azhar’s residence here is a reminder of how terror leaders have been sheltered. The complex has been the launchpad for multiple major attacks, including Pulwama 2019. medium nocaptionhttp://youtu.be/mwiX4grvn50?si=VkPw2u_iePwinlwRSarjal Camp, Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan: Just 6km from the international border, this JeM launchpad, disguised as a health centre, was directly linked to the killing of four Indian police personnel in March.Mehmoona Joya Camp, Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan: 12km from the international border, a Hizbul Mujahideen stronghold. Directed the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack.Barnala, Bhimber district, PoK: 9km from the LoC, a LeT training centre for handling weapons, IEDs, and jungle survival.Shawai Nallah Camp, Muzaffarabad, PoK: 30km from the LoC, a rugged mountain camp training LeT militants, including the Pahalgam attackers.Gulpur Camp, Kotli District, PoK: 30km from the LoC, a launchpad for LeT terrorists in Rajouri-Poonch, implicated in the April 2023 Poonch attack. medium nocaptionhttp://youtu.be/9uCHLWiOtmg?si=1pxKgGlF-hoWYuyGSyedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad, PoK: A JeM stronghold near the Neelum river, a known infiltration route into Kashmir.Mohammed Camp, Narowal district, Punjab, Pakistan: A JeM facility disguised as a health centre, used for drone operations, arms trafficking, and cross-border tunnelling.The strikes were executed with a lethal combination of SCALP cruise missiles (Storm Shadow), Hammer precision bombs, and loitering munitions (kamikaze drones), ensuring pinpoint destruction without collateral damage.Foreign secretary Vikram Misri stressed that the operation was launched only after irrefutable evidence linked the Pahalgam attackers to these camps. “The identification of the attackers has advanced significantly, with a clear picture of the planners and their handlers emerging,” Misri declared.Operation Sindoor was more than a retaliatory strike. It was a calibrated warning — that India will no longer tolerate cross-border terror. Beyond dismantling terror networks, it reaffirmed India’s resolve to protect its citizens and hold perpetrators accountable.TOI+ complete coverage of Operation Sindoor here