In a significant retaliatory move following the terror attack in Pahalgam, India conducted what are being described as its deepest ever surgical strikes on non-military targets in Pakistani territory on Wednesday, May 7. Under the codename 'Operation Sindoor', Indian armed forces targeted nine locations, including key terror infrastructure in Muridke, Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad.

The targets included:

1. Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur - JeM

2. Markaz Taiba, Muridke - LeT

3. Sarjal, Tehra Kalan - JeM

4. Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot - HM

5. Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala - LeT

6. Markaz Abbas, Kotli - JeM

7. Maskar Raheel Shahid, Kotli - HM

8. Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad - LeT

9. Syedna Bilal Camp, Muzaffarabad - JeM

To note, Bahawalpur is 100-150 kilometers inside Pakistan. This is the deepest India has gone to eliminate terror infrastructure across the border. 

A statement released by India’s Ministry of Defence at 1:44 am on Wednesday confirmed that the armed forces executed precision strikes aimed at terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The ministry asserted that these locations were being used "from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed."

Shortly after the announcement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted a powerful message on social media platform X at 2:46 am, simply stating, 'Bharat Mata ki jai (Long live Mother India).'

Full statement from India

India announces Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan.

A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.

Altogether, nine (9) sites have been targeted.

Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution. 

These steps come in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered. We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable.

Pakistan confirms strikes

Confirming the Indian action, the chief spokesman of the Pakistani military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), as cited by state-run PTV, acknowledged that India had struck three locations “from air”: Bahawalpur in Punjab province, and Kotli and Muzaffarabad in PoK.

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Pakistani military’s chief spokesman, was further quoted by Geo News as stating that India had fired missiles at these three locations.

While India has reported hitting nine targets, Pakistan has so far confirmed strikes in these three specific areas.

These strikes mark a significant escalation in the tensions between the two nations following the deadly attack in Pahalgam, and the depth of the Indian operation suggests a strong message being sent across the border regarding India's resolve to counter cross-border terrorism