25 Minutes, 9 Camps, 70 Killed: India’s Operation Sindoor

In a highly strategic and swift operation codenamed Operation Sindoor, India launched 24 precision missile strikes on nine terror camps located across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) between 1:05 AM and 1:30 AM IST on May 7, 2025. The strikes, jointly executed by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, resulted in the elimination of over 70 terrorists associated with groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen. According to the Indian government, this strike was a firm and proportionate response to the heinous Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025, which was traced back to Pakistan-based terrorist networks.
Targeted Terrorist Camps

The nine camps targeted in Operation Sindoor were identified as critical training and operational hubs for various terrorist organizations. Each location played a distinct role in fostering cross-border militancy and orchestrating attacks on Indian soil:
● Sawai Nala Camp, Muzaffarabad – Located 30 km inside Pakistan, this facility served as a core training ground for LeT operatives.
● Syedna Bilal Camp, PoK – A key staging area for JeM, this camp was responsible for arms handling and militant deployment along the LoC.
● Gulpur Camp, Kotli – This site had historical ties to the April 2023 Poonch attack and the June 2024 attack on pilgrims, making it a high-value target.
● Barnala Camp, Bhimber – Situated just 9 km from the LoC, this facility was used to manage arms and ammunition for multiple groups.

● Kotli Abbas – Only 13 km from the LoC, this camp had the capacity to train up to 15 militants simultaneously and was considered an active recruitment node.
● Sarjal Camp, Sialkot – Infamous for its role in the March 2025 killing of four Indian soldiers, the camp played a pivotal role in coordinating field-level terror strikes.
● Mehmoona Joya Camp, Sialkot – A stronghold of Hizbul Mujahideen, this camp was also implicated in the planning of the 2016 Pathankot Airbase attack.
● Markaz Taiba, Muridke – A notorious LeT training center, this location had links to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, including the training of Ajmal Kasab and David Headley.
● Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur – Regarded as the headquarters of JeM, it functioned as a central hub for recruitment, radicalisation, and tactical training.
These strikes, conducted by the Indian Air Force using Rafale jets equipped with SCALP missiles and AASM Hammer bombs, unfolded over a span of just 25 minutes. The precision of the operation showcased the Indian military’s enhanced technological prowess and strategic coordination. All nine camps were struck with pinpoint accuracy, leaving behind destroyed infrastructure and confirming the deaths of over 70 terrorists, with more than 60 others wounded.
The Indian strikes came just hours before a nationwide security mock drill scheduled across 244 districts to test and reinforce India’s civil defence systems in the event of a hostile attack. This drill, part of India's preparedness measures, aims to enhance the country's resilience in the face of potential threats and underscores India’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its national security apparatus.
While Pakistan has claimed civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, India has categorically rejected these assertions. In an official statement, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, clarifying that these facilities were responsible for planning and directing attacks against India. The statement emphasized that the operation was "focused, measured, and non-escalatory" in nature, asserting that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. India further highlighted its considerable restraint in the selection of targets and the method of execution, reaffirming that the action was solely aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure.