Operation Sindoor: 'Pakistan a Safe-Haven for Terrorists', Says MEA in Press Briefing|Key Highlights

Operation Sindoor: During a recent briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that India's strikes were a strong response to Pakistan's "barbaric and deadly" Pahalgam terror attack.

"On 22 April 2025, terrorists related to LeT and Pakistan attacked tourists in Kashmir's Pahalgam and killed 25 Indian nationals and 1 Nepali citizen. They shot tourists in the head in front of their family members. The family were threatened and told to convey the message of that barbarism. Since tourism was again flourishing in J&K, and hence the main aim of the attack was to damage that," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.

The Indian armed forces conducted missile strikes on nine terror locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir region, including Jaish-e-Mohammad’s hub in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s facility in Muridke.

"A group called the Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for Pahalgam attack. This group is connected with Lashkar-e Taiba. Pakistan links have been established in this attack," he added.

Providing details on the Indian airstrikes, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stated, "Operation Sindoor was initiated by the Indian Armed Forces to bring justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terror camps were targeted and completely neutralized. The sites were carefully chosen to ensure minimal impact on civilian infrastructure and prevent any loss of civilian lives."

Key Highlights from the Briefing

1. Nine key terror infrastructure sites were targeted in an effort to disrupt cross-border terror activities.

2. The strikes avoided Pakistani military sites.

3. Muridke, the massive base of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba near Lahore and Bahawalpur, which is also a stronghold of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), were directly hit in the operation.

4. Regions like Kotli and Muzaffarabad in PoK, known for hosting LeT and JeM camps, were also among the airstrike targets.

5. Other major terror sites, such as Hizbul Mujahideen's facility in Mehmoona Joya and LeT's base in Markaz Ahle Hadith, were also neutralized.

6. Jaish-e-Mohammed’s chief, Maulana Masood Azhar, has claimed that 14 people including 10 members of his family and 4 close associates, were killed in an attack on the Subhan-ul-Allah Jama Masjid in Bahawalpur.