In a major counter-terror operation named Operation Sindoor, India conducted precise air and missile strikes on nine high-value terror-linked targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). These strikes were based on intelligence inputs revealing that the targeted locations were actively facilitating terrorism in India, according to counter-terrorism officials.
Pakistan’s Covert Support to Terror Outfits
Terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) have long received systematic support from Pakistan’s military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). This includes financial aid, logistical resources, combat training, and strategic support. Several senior Pakistani military officers were reported to frequently visit these camps and personally oversee training.
To avoid international scrutiny, these groups have been rebranded under new names such as The Resistance Front (TRF), People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), and Kashmir Tigers (KT)—attempting to present their activities as grassroots resistance rather than cross-border terrorism.
Terror Infrastructure Hidden in Plain Sight
Many of the terror training camps and operational hubs are camouflaged within government facilities, including Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). These serve as facades for arms training, tunnel construction, and drone-based smuggling.
High-frequency communication equipment, military-grade hardware, and radical religious indoctrination are all part of the support system. Two prominent radical centers, Markaz Taiba in Muridke and Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur, serve as core hubs for training, planning, and propaganda.
India Targets Under Operation Sindoor
Below is a detailed profile of the nine terror-linked targets struck during Operation Sindoor:
1. Markaz Subhan Allah – Bahawalpur (JeM)
- Function: JeM’s operational HQ; religious and arms training center.
- Significance: Linked to the Pulwama attack; residence of Masood Azhar, JeM’s chief.
- Capacity: Regularly hosts senior leadership and radical indoctrination sessions.
2. Markaz Taiba – Muridke (LeT)
- Established: 2000, Sheikhupura District, Punjab.
- Role: LeT’s main training campus; over 1,000 recruits trained annually.
- Notable Links: 26/11 Mumbai attackers trained here; partially financed by Osama bin Laden.
3. Sarjal / Tehra Kalan – Narowal District (JeM)
- Location: Near Samba sector, Jammu, 6 km from IB.
- Usage: PHC used as a launching site for tunnel infiltration, drone ops, and arms smuggling.
- Key Leaders: Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Mohammad Adnan Ali, and Kashif Jan.
4. Mehmoona Joya Facility – Sialkot (HM)
- Location: Within Bhutta Kotli Government BHU.
- Purpose: Weapon and tactical training for infiltrators into Jammu region.
- Commander: Mohammad Irfan Khan (@Irfan Tanda); facility hosts 20–25 militants.
5. Markaz Ahle Hadith – Barnala, Bhimber (LeT)
- Location: Kote Jamel Road, outskirts of Barnala.
- Function: Launch pad for operations in Poonch-Rajouri-Reasi belt.
- Cadre Strength: 100–150 militants.
- Key Operatives: Qasim Gujjar, Qasim Khanda, Anas Jarar.
6. Markaz Abbas – Kotli (JeM)
- Leader: Hafiz Abdul Shakoor (@Qari Zarrar), JeM shura member.
- Function: Planning and infiltration hub.
- Capacity: 100–125 operatives; close ties with JeM leadership.
7. Maskar Raheel Shahid – Kotli (HM)
- Specialization: Sniper training, BAT actions, and guerrilla warfare.
- Cadre Strength: 150–200 militants; among HM’s oldest and most active centers.
8. Shawai Nallah Camp – Muzaffarabad (LeT)
- Alias: Bait-ul-Mujahideen.
- History: Active since early 2000s; trained 26/11 attackers.
- Focus: GPS navigation, religious indoctrination, physical combat.
- Capacity: 200–250 operatives.
9. Markaz Syedna Bilal – Muzaffarabad (JeM)
- Location: Near Red Fort in Muzaffarabad.
- Role: Transit hub for infiltration into Kashmir.
- Leadership: Headed by Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri.
- Links: Hosts Aashiq Nengroo, wanted Indian fugitive, and JeM commander Abdullah Jehadi.
- Training Support: Provided by Pakistan Army’s SSG commandos.
Strategic Implications
India’s precise targeting of deeply embedded terror infrastructure signals a new phase of proactive counter-terrorism. By targeting these covert bases—many operating under humanitarian guises—India aims to disrupt the backbone of cross-border militancy and hold Pakistan accountable for its state-sponsored terrorism.
The international community is watching closely, as India continues to push for global recognition of Pakistan’s use of terrorism as a strategic tool and calls for sanctions on terror financiers and enablers.
