The Indian Armed Forces have launched Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
A total of nine locations—Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum, and Chakwa—suspected of facilitating and planning attacks against India, were targeted in a carefully coordinated operation.
Described as measured and non-escalatory, the strikes were meticulously planned to avoid Pakistani military installations. Defence sources emphasised that India had shown strategic restraint, both in the choice of targets and the execution method, reinforcing its commitment to neutralising terror threats without provoking broader conflict.
The operation was spearheaded by two women officers: Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that over 100 terrorists were killed in Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to Pakistan, during a briefing with opposition leaders on Thursday afternoon. He also warned Pakistan, which is reportedly considering a military response, against escalating the conflict further.
Singh emphasised that Sindoor is an “ongoing operation” and that while India does not want to carry out further strikes, it will retaliate if Pakistani forces provoke additional attacks.
Following the launch of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces issued a statement saying: “Earlier today, the Indian Armed Forces carried out precision strikes on nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which were directly involved in planning and executing attacks against India. These strikes were focused, measured, and non-escalatory—no Pakistani military installations were targeted. India exercised considerable restraint in both target selection and execution. The operation comes in response to the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. As promised, those responsible are being held accountable. A detailed briefing will follow shortly.”
In an X post, the Indian Army stated, “Justice is Served. Jai Hind!” while sharing the official photo of Operation Sindoor. Several leaders, including Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, also shared videos and the official photo of the operation.
This action follows the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. The name ‘Operation Sindoor’ appears to be a tribute to the young Indians, including Navy Lt Vinay Narwal, who were in Kashmir celebrating their weddings. A poignant image of his grieving wife went viral, stirring strong emotions across the country.
The Defence Ministry, in a statement, said India's Operation Sindoor was “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military sites targeted.
“India had clearly warned that any attack on its military would invite a suitable response,” it said.
On the night of May 7–8, Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks on Indian military bases in cities including Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, and Bhuj. “These were intercepted by our Air Defence systems,” the ministry noted, with debris confirming the attempted strikes.
India responded by targeting Pakistani air defence systems, including one in Lahore.
Pakistan also intensified unprovoked shelling along the LoC, killing 16 civilians. “India remains committed to non-escalation, if reciprocated,” the statement concluded.
In his first response to India’s Operation Sindoor strikes on Pakistan, US President Donald Trump said, "It's a shame. We just heard about it as we were walking into the Oval Office. I guess people anticipated something might happen, given the history. They’ve been fighting for many, many decades, centuries, if you think about it. I hope it ends quickly."
Soon after the strikes, Pakistan’s misinformation machinery went into overdrive, spreading false claims, sources said. “Pro-Pakistan social media accounts and some political figures are fabricating stories of military success and retaliation that never occurred,” one source noted.
In a bid to distort the narrative, state-linked accounts are recycling old images, misrepresenting videos, and spreading fake news to overwhelm the information space and blur the line between fact and fiction.
Sources cited several false claims circulated by Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. One widely shared fake report claimed the Pakistan Army had shot down an Indian Rafale jet near Bahawalpur, the base of Jaish-e-Mohammed. However, PIB Fact Check confirmed the image used was from a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Punjab’s Moga.
Another rumour falsely claimed that Pakistan had destroyed an Indian Brigade Headquarters, which was later debunked. A 2024 video of sectarian violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also misused to support this claim.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif even had to retract his statement alleging Indian soldiers had been captured, later admitting no such event occurred. “These incidents reflect a coordinated effort by Pakistan to distort the truth, mislead the media, and fabricate a counter-narrative after India’s successful strikes,” a source said.
In an interview with Sky News, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Pakistan is conducting a detailed damage assessment and reserves the right to respond to India's actions. He condemned India's attack, claiming it targeted civilians, including women and children, and civilian structures, such as accommodations and a mosque. Tarar asserted there were no terrorist camps in the area, despite India's allegations, and pointed out that Pakistan had been planning a visit with 35 journalists to Bahawalpur the day after the attacks.
Tarar also emphasised that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism, with 90,000 lives lost in the fight against it. He accused India of sponsoring terrorism, citing incidents like the Jaffar Express hijacking and the assassination of Sikhs abroad. Regarding Pakistan’s role in combating terrorism, Tarar stressed that Pakistan has been on the frontlines since 9/11, making significant sacrifices, including losing seven soldiers in a recent attack in Balochistan. He refuted claims of terrorist camps in Pakistan, highlighting the country's ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
Tarar criticised India for blaming Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack on April 22, pointing out that no group claimed responsibility and the incident occurred 200 kilometers from Pakistan’s Line of Control. He also noted that the Pahalgam police registered the first information report within 10 minutes, but victims were left untreated for over an hour. Tarar dismissed India's accusations, stating there’s no evidence linking Pakistan to the attack, while India has targeted civilians without justification. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s right to self-defense and its ongoing response to India’s aggression. Tarar also criticized India’s ruling BJP, accusing them of persecuting minorities and seeking any excuse to attack Pakistan, despite lacking evidence.
Women officers lead India’s Operation Sindoor briefing
India’s briefing on 'Operation Sindoor' delivered a powerful message, with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi—two women officers—leading the announcement of targeted strikes on terror camps in Pakistan.
Named in honour of the women who lost their husbands in the attack, 'Operation Sindoor' and the decision to have women officers front the briefing were widely applauded.
“No military installations were targeted—only verified terror camps linked to cross-border terrorism,” said Colonel Qureshi, following remarks by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. She confirmed that nine such camps were destroyed.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated, “India has shown great restraint, but the Armed Forces are fully prepared to respond to any Pakistani misadventure that may escalate the situation.” A distinguished helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force, Wing Commander Singh joined through the NCC and earned a permanent commission in the flying branch on December 18, 2019. She has flown Chetak and Cheetah helicopters in some of India’s most challenging high-altitude regions, including Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast. Wing Commander Singh has also been part of many rescue missions.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is a decorated officer of the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals. She made history as the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent in a multinational military exercise held in Pune—one of the largest such foreign exercises ever conducted on Indian soil.
Power cut in Muzaffarabad after reported blasts
Multiple loud explosions were reported in the mountainous areas surrounding Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and in two other locations in the region, according to Reuters and local TV channels. Witnesses said the blasts led to a complete power outage in Muzaffarabad.
In response, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s military condemned the incident as a “shameful and cowardly attack carried out from within Indian airspace,” adding that all Pakistani Air Force jets are airborne. The spokesperson vowed that Islamabad would respond “at a time and place of its choosing.”
Mock drills to prepare for hostile attacks
India has launched nationwide civil defence exercises on May 7, asking all states and Union Territories to conduct drills in 244 civil defence districts. The aim is to test the country’s preparedness for hostile attacks, simulating war-like scenarios with air raid sirens, communications with the Indian Air Force, blackout measures, and the camouflaging of vital installations. The drills will also evaluate civil defence services, including firefighting, rescue operations, and evacuation plans.
The directive was issued by the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards following intense discussions with PM Modi and national security officials. The exercises also focus on training civilians, students, and volunteers in civil defence tactics.
Meanwhile, Indian military leaders briefed PM Modi on their operational readiness, with cross-border firing continuing along the LoC and rising tensions in the Arabian Sea. Modi has granted the military full operational freedom to respond to terrorism.
In a significant economic move, India has imposed a trade, mail, and shipping ban with Pakistan and closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft. Additionally, India has reduced Chenab river flows, citing the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
As tensions escalate, major European carriers have rerouted flights to avoid Pakistani airspace, and the UK has issued a travel advisory for both India and Pakistan. In response, Pakistan test-fired a 450 km-range missile and received support from Turkey, with a warship and military aircraft arriving in Pakistan.
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Veteran home guards women ready to serve again
Women home guards who served during the 1971 India-Pakistan war in Bhuj have expressed their readiness to defend the nation once more if needed. Reflecting on her wartime experiences, Jyotiben Upadhyay, a former Home Guard, shared how they patrolled the streets of Bhuj in groups during blackouts to reassure the local residents.
Jyoti Kothari, another Home Guard from 1971, remembered their extensive weapons training. Jyoti recalled, "I joined the Home Guard in 1971. When the war broke out, Pakistan dropped 17 bombs on Bhuj in a single day. During the blackout, we patrolled the streets together to reassure the frightened residents."
She continued, "Today, the situation is escalating once again. We women must gather our courage and remain vigilant. Even if we are called for desk duties, I am ready to serve once more."
"We were thoroughly trained in weapon handling. I encourage women to step up for the country as the situation grows more critical. We’ve discussed as a team that we should contribute in any way we can, given the current circumstances," she said.
