Following the fatal Pahalgam terror assault, which killed 26 civilians, Indian intelligence agencies and military forces selected more than 20 terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Operation Sindoor, which began in May 2025.
Following the creation of the list of targets, Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conducted comprehensive meetings with intelligence and defense personnel; India later targeted nine of them.
The target selection process was comprehensive and entailed high-level talks, including meetings presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Army, Air Force, and Navy chiefs. The Markaz Taiba camp in Muridke and Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur, both regarded important operational bases for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), were among the first targets proposed.
Following extensive consultations, including a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a final list of nine targets for precise strikes was accepted. The guiding principles for these operations were straightforward: avoid civilian casualties, respect religious sentiments, and avoid targeting military installations.
This directive was clearly relayed to the leaders of intelligence and defense organizations, who were also granted the freedom to dismantle any terror camp across the border as long as these conditions were properly followed.
The strikes were carried out with precision, focused primarily on terrorist infrastructure. Four of the nine targeted targets were in Pakistan, with the remaining five in PoK. Notable among these were the JeM stronghold at Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur, the LeT’s nerve core at Markaz Taiba in Muridke, and other Hizbul Mujahideen camps.
Sarjal in Tehra Kalan, Markaz Abbas in Kotli, Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad, Markaz Ahle Hadith in Barnala, Shwawai Nalla camp in Muzaffarabad, Makaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli, and Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot were all targeted. The mission revealed India’s capacity to travel deep into Pakistani territory, including Punjab province, and respond to terrorist threats in a controlled, non-escalating manner.
Throughout the operation, Indian forces demonstrated sophisticated capabilities, using Rafale jets equipped with SCALP missiles and HAMMER bombs to successfully jam Pakistan’s air defense systems and complete the mission in a quick 23-minute window. The strikes were regarded as concentrated and restrained, with no Pakistani military sites targeted, indicating India’s desire to prevent escalation and civilian casualties.
Operation Sindoor was a meticulously planned and performed military operation that targeted more than 20 identified terror facilities, with nine eventually picked for precision strikes. The operation represented a fundamental shift in India’s counter-terror philosophy, sending a clear statement that jihadist infrastructure beyond the border would not be permitted, while adhering to tight rules of engagement to avoid civilian or religious injury.
