Operation Sindoor - India-Pakistan War - May 2025

Operation Sindoor - India-Pakistan War - May 2025
Date	May 7, 2025
Location	Pakistan, India, Indo-Pak border and Line of Control
Goals	To avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, to destory launchpads and bases of terrorism in Pakistan, to serve a deterrence to backers of terrorist in Pakistan
Status	Event Aftermath Ongoing
Lead figures
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, Pakistan Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan General Asim Munir
Casualties
Death(s)	Pakistan ≈ 150; India ≈ 50

To avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, destroy terrorist launch-pads in Pakistan and punish terrorism backers, early morning May 7, 2025, India launched 'Operation Sindoor'. The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force jointly struck deep into Pakistani and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) territory and destroyed nine terrorist camps which had served as the nerve centers of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

The depth of the strikes into Pakistan territory was historic. The nine sites stretched over 500 kilometres from Bahwalpur in the south to Muzaffarabad in the north of Pakistan. According to top security sources over 100 terrorists were killed.

Summary

Between May 7 and May 10, a four-day conflict unfolded during which India conducted cross-border strikes targeting nine terrorist camps located across various cities in Pakistan using precision-guided munitions, loitering drones and missiles. The depth of Indian strikes into Pakistan territory was historic with Bahawalpur being almost a hundred kilometres deep into Pakistan territory. The sites stretched over 500 kilometers from Bahwalpur in the south to Muzaffarabad in the north of Pakistan. An estimated 100 terrorists were killed. Intelligence sources indicated that Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied radar systems had failed to detect the Indian strikes.

The Pakistan military-terror nexus was exposed as Generals attended terrorist funerals. At the funerals uniformed Pakistan Army officers, senior ISI handlers and even the Inspector General of Punjab Police were spotted standing in reverence. Terrorist coffins were draped in Pakistan’s national flag resembling state funerals.

In response, Pakistan launched a series of drone and missile attacks on more than 36 Indian cities using Chinese and Turkish equipment. India successfully intercepted almost all of these strikes using its multi-layered and integrated Akashteer Air Defence System (ADS) along with the S-400 Sudarshan Chakra ADS.

Subsequently, India carried out a second wave of precision attacks, targeting and significantly damaging fifteen Pakistani airbases, cantonment air defence radars and other strategic equipment. India became the first country to strike airbases and cantonment ADS' of a nuclear-armed nation.

Following the exchange of hostilities, Pakistan was unable to provide any credible evidence of damage inflicted on Indian military installations or assets. In contrast, the impact of Indian strikes was substantiated through satellite imagery and videos shared by local sources, clearly indicating substantial and targeted damage to Pakistan’s military infrastructure and capabilities.

On May 10, 2025, at 3:35 pm, Pakistan formally requested a cessation of hostilities. Both sides agreed to a pause in engagement effective from 5:00 pm the same day. This understanding has largely held since.

India made it clear that decisions taken following the Apr 22-Pahalgam terror attack, including holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, would remain in effect. It also declared that any future terrorist attack would be considered an act of war met with a formidable response.

On May 12, addressing the nation for the first time after Operation Sindoor started, PM Modi declared that India had set a new normal for anti-terrorism operations. First, the country will respond decisively to any provocation on terrorism, even beyond its borders. Second it will make no distinction between terrorists and those who support or enable them. And finally, the nation will never submit to nuclear blackmail. He also ruled out any third party mediation on Kashmir.

Context

The Pahalgam terror attack had occurred two weeks earlier on Apr 22. 26 unarmed tourists, predominantly Hindus, were gunned down and more than 18 others were injured in a carnage carried out by Islamic militants. Men were separated, asked to recite an Islamic kalma, stripped to check them for circumcision, before being executed for being of a faith other than Muslim, even as women and children watched in horror.

Preliminary reports suggested that the attack was carried out by a group of seven terrorists, including Pakistani nationals. The Resistance Front (TRF), a spin-off of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Pakistan based terrorist group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Less than a week earlier, on Apr 16, the Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir had made a frenzied speech from Islamabad stoking hate for Hindus, suggesting that Pakistan's stability hinged on perpetuating a narrative of hostility towards the followers of the Vedic religion and India.

As a consequence, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with Pakistan, which had governed India’s allocation of river water from Indus, Chenab and Jhelum to a downstream Pakistan signalling a major shift in relationship between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, "India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth.” Separately Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted to training, supporting, and funding terrorist groups for over three decades on a public TV interview. "We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, and (for the) West, including Britain." he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the Indian armed forces complete freedom on the mode, target and timing of the response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Timeline of the Operations

May 7, 2025

Between 1.05 and 1:30 am, India launched 'Operation Sindoor'. The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force jointly struck deep into Pakistani and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) territory and destroyed nine terrorist camps which had served as the nerve centers of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

The strikes used precision strike weaponry. A total of 24 missiles and kamizake drones were launched from within Indian territory hit the targets. The depth of the strikes into Pakistan territory was historic. Among the nine terrorist camps annihilated was Markaz Subhan Allah, in Bahawalpur, 100 km from international border, that had served as the headquarters of JeM. Also destroyed was Markaz Taiba, Muridke, 30 km from the Indo-Pak border, that had served as the LeT Headquarters. The nine sites stretched over 500 kilometers from Bahwalpur in the south to Muzaffarabad in the north.

According to top security sources over 100 terrorists were killed.

The name ‘Operation Sindoor’ is a tribute to the widows of the 26 men killed in Pahalgam. According to sources, PM Modi stayed up overnight monitoring the deadliest air strikes in real-time.

10 family members and four aides of Terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar were eliminated.

A map of the sites attacked is as follows:



A full list of the sites hit is:

1. Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur - 100 km from international border - Headquarters of JeM struck

2. Markaz Taiba, Muridke - 30 km from the border, LeT Headquarters hit - 26/11 terrorists came from here

3. Sarjal, Tehra Kalan – JeM camp about 8 km from International border opposite Samba-Kathua
4. Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot – 15 km from international border - Hizbul Mujahideen camp near Sialkot hit
5. Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala - 10 km from LoC opposite Rajouri - LeT camp destroyed
6. Markaz Abbas, Kotli – 15 km from LoC opposite Rajouri. Lashkar's bomber base with 50 terrorists
7. Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli – Hizbul
8. Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad – 30 kms inside PoK, across Tangdhar sector. It was base camp for Pahalgam attackers
9. Syedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad – Jaish-e-Mohammad launchpad

The Foreign Secretary called the air strikes within Pakistan and PoK territory 'measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible' which focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists likely to be sent across to India.

Intelligence sources indicated that Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied radar systems had failed to detect the latest Indian strikes, repeating a pattern of critical failures seen during past high-profile military actions by India, including the Balakot air strike.

Pakistan military-terror nexus was exposed as Generals attended terrorist funerals. At the funerals uniformed Pakistan Army officers, senior ISI handlers, and even the Inspector General of Punjab Police were spotted standing in reverence. Terrorist coffins were draped in Pakistan’s national flag as if it was a state funeral.

Pakistan forces sharply escalated cross-border shelling in Jammu and Kashmir targeting civilians in India that left at least nine dead and 38 injured.

Sections of the international media made claims that India had lost fighter jets in the strikes. No evidence was offered. In a subsequent statement during a Director General of Military Operations briefing, Air Marshal Air Marshal A.K. Bharti confirmed ‘India had achieved all its objectives and all our pilots are back home’. He also indicated stated there was a loss of Pakistani jets without offering a specific number. Independent defence analyst, Tom Cooper, called the downing of Indian jets a fake narrative spread by international media.

About two weeks earlier, India had deployed its INS Vikrant aircraft carrier strike group to the Arabian Sea, closer to Pakistan's maritime frontier.

May 8 and 9, 2025

Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and missiles along the entire Western border. On May 8, these attacks involved 300-400 Turkish-Asisguard Songar drones targeting 36 sites, including civilian and military infrastructure. India also reported cross border firing by heavy calibre artillery guns along the Line of Control (LoC). Om May 9 another 26 Indian sites were targeted.

Pakistan attempted to strike Amritsar's Golden Temple however India foiled all attempts. Reports also suggested that Pakistan had laid a plan to blame India for the attack on the Gurdwara to wedge a Hindu-Sikh divide. A social media campaign was ready to spread the fake narrative. Pakistan had struck a Gurdwara on May 7 in Poonch killing three members of the Sikh community.

The Indian Armed Forces foiled nearly all of the incoming attacks unleashing India own “Iron Dome”, the Akashteer Air Defence System (ADS) along with S-400 Sudarshan Chakra ADS. All eight Pakistani missiles were intercepted by India. The layered and integrated Akashteer ADS interfaces air defence and land-based sensors from both the Army Air Defence (AAD) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) providing a seamless and unified air threat picture that is accessible to the all operational units.

On May 8, Indian Armed Forces carried out SEAD/DEAD operations, neutralizing Pakistani air defence systems in Lahore. Drones attacked several other Pakistani cities including Karachi and Rawalpindi. A drone also landed inside the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium complex before the start of a Pakistan Super League match, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board to cancel the matches.

May 10, 2025

The conflict escalated on 10 May. India accused Pakistan of launching missile attacks on air bases in Punjab at around 2:00 am, and said that it launched its own retaliatory attacks on Pakistan's air bases. These were said to have been precision attacks on identified military targets

India became the first country to strike airbases and cantonment ADs of a nuclear-armed nation in a single operation, targeting 15 sites and destroying, by some accounts, 20% of Pakistan’s air force assets in a span of 25 minutes. High casualties were inflicted at Bholari airbase, including the death of Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf, nearly 50 other personnel and the destruction of key fighter jets.



The Indian attacks were on Pakistani terrorist camps and its military infrastructure as seen below:



The airbases and cantonments India target in Pakistan were:

1. Murid Airbase: Located in Murid, Chakwal district of Punjab.
2. Rafiqui Airbase: Located near Shorkot in the Jhang district of Punjab, approximately 337 km south of Islamabad.
3. Nur Khan Airbase: Located in Chaklala, Rawalpindi, Punjab.

4. Sukkur Airbase: A Pakistan Air Force base that also functions as Sindh's second largest civilian airport after Karachi

5. Rahimyar Khan Airbase: Located near Rahimyar Khan in southern Punjab, Pakistan.

6. Chunian Airbase: Located near the town of Chunian in Punjab, about 70 km south of Lahore.

7. Sialkot Airbase: Located near Sialkot city in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
8. Sargodha Airbase and Kirana Hills: Located in Sargodha in Punjab province.

9. Jacobabad Airbase: Located in the town of Jacobabad at the northern part of Sindh province.

10. Pasrur Cantonment: Located near the Sialkot district in Punjab.

11. Bholari Airbase: Located near Jamshoro in Sindh.

12. Skardu Airbase: Located near the city of Skardu in the Baltistan region of Pakistan.
13. Lahore Cantonment (struck on May 7)

14. Arifwala Air Defence Radar

15. Malir Cantonment Karachi

Indian intelligence agencies soon intercepted ‘high alert messages’ flashing across Pakistan’s defence networks after the Nur Khan air base attack near Rawalpindi. The airbase is within 20 km of Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. It is strategically important for its air refuelling capabilities, which would keep the Pakistani fighter jets afloat. More importantly, the Nur Khan air base is close to the Strategic Plans Division that maintains Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

Pakistan’s air defence systems had failed to intercept/ neutralise the strikes, resulting in large-scale damage and destruction. Fearing damage to its nuclear arsenal, Pakistan then called the United States for urgent intervention. The US, directed Pakistan to hot-line the Indian Army Director General of Military Operations.

At 3:35 pm, IST, Pakistani Major General Kashif Abdullah spoke to his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai and requested a cessation of attacks. India later agreed to the pause making it clear that decisions taken following the Apr 22-Pahalgam terror attack, including holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, would remain in effect. It also declared that any future terrorist attack would be considered an act of war met with a formidable response.

The agreement to cease attacks commenced at 5 pm IST. Pakistan violated it within hours after the start by resuming cross border fire. However, over the next two days these violations, adequately thwarted by the Indian armed forces, also quietened down.

In the midst of the conflict, despite its history of sponsoring terror, the International Monetary Fund approved a loan of $1 billion to Pakistan. India had opposed the grant of the loan pointing out that the funds would be used for terrorism and war, but its warning was ignored. As IMF rules allow either a yes-vote or an abstention, India abstained from voting to express its dissent.

A US Department of Energy’s nuclear emergency support aircraft (B350 AMS) visited Pakistan sparking intense speculation whether the Indian attacks had intentionally or otherwise, struck a sensitive nuclear facility triggering a potential leak or critical breach.

May 11, 2025 and After

A reconstruction of INS Vikrant’s first combat mission illustrating its kinetic capability, tempo and operational footprint in the Arabian Sea during the Operation Sindoor was as follows:

On May 12, addressing the nation for the first time after Operation Sindoor started, PM Modi declared that India had set a new normal for anti-terrorism operations. First, the country will respond decisively to any provocation on terrorism, even beyond its borders. Second it will make no distinction between terrorists and those who support or enable them. And finally, the nation will never submit to nuclear blackmail.

Rejecting the need for any third party mediation, he said, 'If there are talks between India and Pakistan, they will only be on terrorism and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)' marking a bold and assertive shift in India’s new national security posture.

India declared that it had only halted Operation Sindoor at that moment, and India's next move would depend on how Pakistan conducted its business in future.

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