India’s Operation Sindoor Triumph: 9 Terror Camps Hit, All Troops Return Unharmed

India executed Operation Sindoor, a tri-services air strike targeting nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. Launched at 1:44 AM, the operation struck sites in Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muridke, home to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed bases, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence. All Indian Air Force pilots and personnel returned safely, with the Indian Army and Navy ensuring no losses, marking a significant triumph in counter-terrorism efforts, as reported by India Today.

Strategic and Measured Response

The operation, monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was described as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” avoiding Pakistani military facilities to prevent broader conflict, per the Press Information Bureau. The strikes, using SCALP missiles from Rafale jets, neutralized all nine targets, including terror launchpads in Bhimber and Sialkot, with sources estimating 12 terrorists killed and 55 injured. The operation was the culmination of weeks of meticulous planning following the Pahaghan attack, which had links to Pakistan's ISI. Prime Minister Modi's meetings with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top military officials played a crucial role in shaping a precise and targeted strategy.India’s restraint contrasted with Pakistan’s claims of civilian casualties, which New Delhi refuted, emphasizing terror-specific targets.

Public and Political Support

Operation Sindoor garnered widespread acclaim, with locals in Jammu and Kashmir chanting “Indian Army Zindabad” and leaders like Yogi Adityanath and Tejashwi Yadav praising the strikes on X. Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and RJD, hailed the army’s precision, reflecting national unity. Social media erupted with #OperationSindoor trending, as posts celebrated the safe return of troops and the destruction of terror infrastructure. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” post encapsulated the patriotic fervor, while a detailed briefing was scheduled for later on May 7.

Geopolitical Fallout and Vigilance

Pakistan’s retaliatory artillery fire along the LoC killed three Indian civilians, prompting calibrated responses from Indian troops, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labeled the strikes an “act of war,” claiming eight civilian deaths, a narrative India dismissed. Global reactions, including U.S. calls for restraint, underscored the nuclear-armed neighbors’ tensions. As India conducts civil defence drills on May 7, Operation Sindoor signals a robust anti-terror stance, with the nation on high alert for potential escalations while celebrating a tactical victory