In a historic retaliation following the tragic terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, India launched a decisive military operation named Operation Sindoor to target and dismantle terrorist networks operating from Pakistan. On the night of May 6 and 7, 2025, the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy came together to strike nine major terrorist bases within Pakistan, marking a new chapter in India’s military history.
Here are the five biggest takeaways from Operation Sindoor:
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First Ever Attack on Pakistan’s Punjab Province
While India has previously carried out surgical strikes and airstrikes, this operation was unprecedented in several ways. For the first time, Pakistan’s Punjab province—home to the headquarters of notorious terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba—was directly targeted. India expanded its reach beyond Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), entering sensitive Pakistani cities such as Bahawalpur, Sheikhpura, and Sialkot, where terror infrastructure was decimated.
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Destruction of Terrorist Headquarters
A key objective of Operation Sindoor was to strike at the root of terrorism, and India achieved this by targeting terrorist training and planning camps. The operation destroyed key facilities including:
Subhan Allah Camp in Bahawalpur (Jaish-e-Mohammed)
Tayba Camp in Sheikhpura (Lashkar-e-Taiba)
200-acre Lashkar Training Center in Muridke
Transit Camps in Muzaffarabad and Kotli (Hizbul Mujahideen)
These sites were critical hubs for training and sending terrorists into India, providing them with weapons, training, and indoctrination.
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Strike Without Crossing Airspace
One of the unique aspects of Operation Sindoor was that India’s Air Force did not cross its own airspace. Instead, the operation relied on advanced weapons such as Scalp cruise missiles and Hammer bombs to penetrate deep into enemy territory. In just 25 minutes, India executed a swift and precise strike against the terrorist camps, setting a new precedent for rapid military action.
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Elimination of Over 80 Terrorists
According to intelligence sources and media reports, more than 80 terrorists were killed during the operation, including several top commanders and strategists. Among the casualties were 10 relatives and four associates of Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar, who were killed at the Bahawalpur camp. The camp at Muzaffarabad, where the Pahalgam attack was reportedly planned, was completely destroyed, significantly disrupting the terrorist network.
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A Decisive Message Against Terrorism
Operation Sindoor was not merely a retaliatory strike but a symbol of India’s new military strategy against terrorism. It reflected India’s shift from merely responding to attacks to proactively dismantling terrorist networks. The operation targeted organizations responsible for some of the most horrific attacks on Indian soil over the past two decades, including:
The 2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2016 Uri attack
The 2019 Pulwama attack
The operation sent a clear message that India will no longer tolerate terror emanating from across the border and will strike directly at the sources of these threats.
Why Was It Named ‘Sindoor’?
The name Sindoor was chosen deliberately, drawing from Indian culture where it symbolizes strength, honor, and sacrifice. By naming the operation Sindoor, India conveyed that this was not just a military action, but a message of national pride and a tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs who have given their lives in the fight against terrorism.
Following the strike, Pakistan’s government and military response has been marked by confusion and anxiety. The country’s media remains in a state of disarray, but one fact is clear: India has sent a strong and unequivocal message by dismantling not only terrorist bases but also shaking Pakistan’s strategic foundations for the first time.
