Following India’s attacks in various regions of Pakistan, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan Punjab, major airports in the country will be closed for 48 hours, reports added.
India’s Pin-Point Strikes Under ‘Operation Sindoor’
At 1.44 am on Wednesday, India launched pin-point strikes in at least two locations – Muridka and Bahawalpur – in Pakistan’s Punjab and two – Kotli and Muzaffarabad – in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as part of ‘Operation Sindoor’. The strikes were launched in retaliation for the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 when 26 were killed, including two Navy and Intelligence Bureau personnel.
Operation Sindoor Involving All Three Arms of the Indian Military
All the three arms of the Indian military the Army, Navy, and Air Force participated in Operation Sindoor, during which at least nine terrorist camps in Pakistan were targeted. The targets included Muridke the hub of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is said to have been responsible for the Pahalgam attack – and Bahawalpur, the headquarters of the Masood Azhar-led Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Recountering India’s diplomatic efforts post-Pahalgam attack, Pakistan had closed its airspace for Indian airlines and now has closed major airports for 48 hours. India also declared that there will be no civilian flights from the Srinagar airport on Wednesday.
In a statement, the defense ministry labelled the strikes as a “restrained and calibrated response” to the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack and emphasized that no Pakistani military installation was targeted, in keeping with India’s “calibrated and non-escalatory approach.”
Highlighting the retaliatory aspect of the strikes, the ministry stated, “This operation reflects India’s determination to hold perpetrators accountable without unnecessary provocation.” India has also stated that it had hoped Pakistan would move against terrorists following the Pahalgam attacks but indulged in denial instead.
Threat of Retaliation by Pakistan, Continued Ceasefire Violations
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that attacks were launched in five areas and that the nation “retains the right to respond forcefully”. The Pakistan Army also initiated mortar fires along the Line of Control in the Bhimber Gali sector of the Poonch-Rajauri sector, continuing ceasefire violations that have been on for more than 10 days.
India has informed several countries, including the United States, and spoke through National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to his US counterpart Marco Rubio.
