India carried out a major military operation early Wednesday (May 7) in response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Called Operation Sindoor, the mission targeted key terror camps located deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The operation began around 2 am. It involved joint efforts from the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. They used precision-guided missiles and possibly drones to strike the locations. According to sources, nine terror camps were destroyed. These were in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, and Bagh in PoK, and Muridke and Ahmedpura Sharqia in Bahawalpur, Punjab province.
One of the major targets was Bahawalpur, the hometown of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar. This strike is seen as significant. It shows India’s resolve to take action not just near the border, but deep inside Pakistani territory. Masood Azhar, who is a UN-designated global terrorist, is known to move about freely in Bahawalpur. He often delivers speeches unless he is under what officials describe as “symbolic house arrest.”
Who is Masood Azhar
Masood Azhar is the founder of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), a banned terrorist group responsible for numerous attacks in India. Born in 1968 in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, he has been a prominent figure in the region’s terrorism for decades.
Azhar was originally a member of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), a militant group involved in the Afghan-Soviet war. After his release in 1999 from an Indian prison in exchange for hostages, Azhar founded JeM in 2000. The group’s primary objective is the integration of Kashmir into Pakistan under Sharia law. Despite being designated a global terrorist by the UN in 2019, Azhar continues to live freely in Pakistan, often giving sermons and promoting his extremist ideology.
India’s Operation Sindoor
In response to the Pahalgam terror attack in May 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7. The operation targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The operation took place at 2 am, involving strikes by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. India used precision missiles and drones to hit nine terror sites in Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bagh (PoK), and Muridke and Ahmedpura Sharqia in Bahawalpur.
Significance of Strikes in Bahawalpur
The strikes on Bahawalpur, the hometown of Masood Azhar, were especially important. They marked a shift in India’s counter-terrorism strategy—targeting terrorist strongholds deep inside Pakistan.
Despite being a UN-designated global terrorist, Azhar continues to move freely in Bahawalpur, where he resides under tight security. His presence there highlights the ongoing support that JeM receives from certain elements in Pakistan.
JeM’s Continued Operations
Even though JeM was banned in 2002, it still operates with relative freedom in Pakistan. The group runs training camps and recruits young fighters to carry out attacks in India. Azhar’s brother, Abdul Rauf Azhar, and other key operatives, such as Shah Nawaz Khan and Maulana Mufti Mohammad Asghar, manage these camps, which reportedly have over 300 recruits.
JeM’s Strategic Location
Bahawalpur is strategically located near Pakistan’s military headquarters and a suspected nuclear facility. This proximity raises concerns about the group’s connections with Pakistan’s military. JeM’s base remains a significant threat to India’s security and continues to support attacks aimed at Kashmir and India.
India’s Vigilance
India’s Operation Sindoor is a clear message that it will take action against terrorism, even inside Pakistan. The Jaish-e-Mohammad and Masood Azhar remain serious threats, and India’s efforts to dismantle terror infrastructure will continue.
The terrorist group’s continued activity in Pakistan and Azhar’s freedom show that more efforts are needed to ensure regional security. The situation remains tense, and India will likely remain vigilant in its fight against terror.
