In response to terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir, India strikes terror camps inside Pakistan

By Sagaya Fernando & Sumesh Rajan

 

India launched precision strikes on nine locations housing “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir early Wednesday, May 7, in response to a deadly terror attack in Kashmir two weeks earlier that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.

In a statement released by the Indian Ministry of Defence, the government confirmed that its armed forces had carried out the targeted operation against sites "from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed."

Codenamed Operation Sindoor, the strikes were aimed at nine carefully chosen targets.

“Our actions have been focused, measured, and non-escalatory. No Pakistani military facilities were targeted. India has exercised considerable restraint in both the choice of targets and the execution of the operation,” the statement emphasized.

 

Timeline of Escalation :

April 22: Massacre at Baisaran, Pahalgam

At approximately 2:30 PM on April 22, heavily armed militants opened fire on Indian tourists in Baisaran, a meadow near the popular hill resort of Pahalgam. The attackers targeted families enjoying picnics and pony rides, executing victims with headshots at close range in front of their loved ones.

The massacre resulted in the death of 27 people, including 25 Indians, one Nepalese national, and one UAE citizen, while 17 others were injured. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the UN-designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility. Indian intelligence agencies identified Saifullah Kasuri, alias Khalid, a senior LeT commander, as the operational planner. The attackers reportedly infiltrated through Kishtwar and traveled via Kokernag before reaching the site.

Victims hailed from across India, including Maharashtra (6 dead), Gujarat (3), Karnataka (3), West Bengal (2), and several other states. The attack was aimed at undermining Kashmir’s tourism economy, which recorded 23 million visitors in 2024.

April 23: Strategic and Diplomatic Measures

                                                 Vikram Misri (Foreign Secretary of India)

India Responds Strongly to Pahalgam Terror Attack: Indus Treaty Suspended, Diplomatic Ties Downgraded, Attari Border Closed

In the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack near Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people including one Nepali national, India launched a series of sharp diplomatic and strategic measures against Pakistan. Underlining the “cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack,” New Delhi announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a significant downgrading of diplomatic ties, and a slew of punitive actions targeting Pakistani presence in India.

In an unprecedented move since 2019, India reduced diplomatic representation further — from 55 personnel to 30 — expelled key military and diplomatic figures from the Pakistan High Commission, cancelled all visas issued to Pakistani nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), and ordered the closure of the Attari-Wagah border. Additionally, India has pulled out its own staff and advisors from its mission in Islamabad.

Addressing the media, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri outlined the decisions taken at a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting was attended by top ministers and officials including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and secretaries from key ministries.

“The CCS was briefed in detail about the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen lost their lives. Several others were injured,” Misri stated. “The CCS condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed condolences to the bereaved families, also wishing the injured a speedy recovery.”

He noted the global response, saying, “Many governments have conveyed strong expressions of support and solidarity, unequivocally condemning this terror attack. The CCS recorded its appreciation for such sentiments, reflecting a shared commitment to zero tolerance for terrorism.”

Highlighting the cross-border dimensions of the attack, Misri pointed out its timing amid successful elections in the Union Territory and its developmental strides. In light of this, the CCS resolved to take the following measures:

Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty:

Effective immediately, the 1960 treaty is put on hold. India stated that the treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably abjures support for cross-border terrorism.” India had already initiated steps to revisit the treaty in recent years — issuing notices in 2023 and again in 2024. This move formally sets the treaty aside, making its revival contingent on Pakistan’s anti-terror commitments.

Closure of the Attari-Wagah Border:

The Integrated Check Post at Attari will be closed immediately. Pakistan nationals in India via this route, including patients and businesspersons, must return by May 1, 2025.

Cancellation of SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) Visas:

All SVES visas issued to Pakistani nationals are now void. Those currently in India under this scheme have 48 hours to exit the country. The SVES, launched in 1992, allowed certain dignitaries and professionals visa-free travel within SAARC nations, including judges, parliamentarians, senior officials, journalists, and sportspeople.

Expulsion of Military and Defence Officials:

All Defence, Naval, and Air Advisors at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata and must leave India within a week. India will reciprocate by withdrawing its corresponding advisors from Islamabad. The support staff of these officials will also be pulled out. These positions have historically served as vital channels between the two countries’ armed forces and intelligence communities.

Further Reduction in Diplomatic Staff:

By May 1, 2025, the strength of both High Commissions will be reduced to 30 personnel from the current 55, including the withdrawal of 17 more diplomatic staff and the expelled defence officials. This will leave only skeletal representation in both capitals.

Misri also confirmed that the CCS has directed all security forces to maintain heightened vigilance across the country. “The CCS resolved that the perpetrators of the attack will be brought to justice and their sponsors held to account. As demonstrated with the recent extradition of Tahawwur Rana, India will be relentless in its pursuit of those behind terrorist acts,” he said.

Faced with the deadliest terrorist strike since 26/11, the government weighed a range of options before opting for a full-spectrum diplomatic retaliation. Sources noted that, similar to past responses after the 2008 and 2019 attacks, the current strategy includes strong international outreach — briefing foreign ambassadors in Delhi, dispatching envoys abroad, raising the issue at the UN, and seeking global condemnation of Pakistan’s terror links.

May 7 :

In a powerful military and diplomatic retaliation to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali national, India launched Operation SINDOOR earlier today, targeting and destroying nine terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). The strikes were announced during a press briefing by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, joined by Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

Foreign Secretary Misri opened the briefing by recalling the barbarity of the April 22 attack, carried out by Pakistan-based and trained Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists under the banner of The Resistance Front (TRF). Misri highlighted that the massacre—India’s deadliest since the 2008 Mumbai attacks—targeted Indian tourists, many of whom were executed with head-shots in front of their families to inflict psychological trauma. “It was clearly aimed at disrupting the return of normalcy and economic revival in Jammu & Kashmir, particularly its booming tourism sector,” he said.

He emphasized the broader objective of the attack—to provoke communal discord in Kashmir and across India—which was thwarted by the resilience of the Indian government and public. Misri pointed out that TRF, which claimed responsibility, is a front for the UN-proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba and noted India’s repeated warnings to the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee regarding the group’s activities.

He also criticized Pakistan’s refusal to act on evidence and its history of sheltering and misleading the world about terrorists, including the notorious Sajid Mir case. “Despite two weeks having passed since the attack, there has been no credible action by Pakistan to dismantle its terrorist infrastructure,” Misri noted, stating that Pakistan had instead responded with denial and propaganda.

In light of the ongoing threat and intelligence indicating more attacks were imminent, Misri said India “exercised its right to respond, pre-empt and deter,” launching a calculated and proportionate military operation.

Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh then provided details of the operation.

Wing Commander Singh stated, “Operation SINDOOR was launched to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed.” She described Pakistan’s terror infrastructure as a complex web of recruitment, indoctrination, and training facilities, spread across both Pakistan and PoJK. She highlighted that the selected camps—stretching from Sawai Nala in the north to Bahawalpur in the south—had been on Indian radar for years.

Singh explained that the operation relied on credible intelligence and selected targets that played direct roles in training and launching terrorists. Care was taken to avoid civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure. “Each target was a specific building or group of buildings. Niche technology and precision-guided munitions were used,” she said.

She further emphasized the professionalism of the Indian Armed Forces, stating that all strikes were carried out with clinical efficiency, and no military establishments were targeted. “India has shown restraint. But the armed forces are fully prepared to respond if Pakistan attempts any misadventure,” she warned.

Misri concluded the briefing by linking India's military action to the UN Security Council’s April 25 statement, which had called for bringing perpetrators and sponsors of the Pahalgam attack to justice. “India’s actions must be seen in this context,” he stated.

The Foreign Secretary declined to take questions, citing the evolving nature of the situation, but assured that further briefings would follow.

May 8 :

In a swift and aggressive retaliation to India’s precision strikes under Operation SINDOOR, Pakistan unleashed intense artillery shelling across multiple sectors along the Line of Control (LoC), targeting civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, thirteen Indian civilians were killed and 59 injured in the shelling that followed hours after India's targeted strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir.

The Indian Army responded promptly with targeted counter-fire, aiming to contain the situation without escalating it into a full-blown conflict.

The day of cross-border hostilities culminated in the tragic loss of a soldier. In a statement released late Wednesday night, the Indian Army confirmed the death of Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of 5 Field Regiment. “GOC and all ranks of White Knight Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of L/Nk Dinesh Kumar... We also stand in solidarity with all victims of the targeted attacks on innocent civilians in Poonch sector,” the Army’s 16 Corps said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Poonch, the worst-hit area, bore the brunt of the artillery fire, with at least 12 civilian deaths and 40 injuries reported from the region. Multiple other sectors in the Kashmir Valley, including Baramulla, Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor, also came under heavy shelling.

Officials described the shelling as some of the most intense since the 2021 ceasefire understanding. The Krishna Ghati, Shahpur, and Mankote sectors in Poonch, along with Laam, Manjakote, and Gambhir Brahmana in Rajouri, were among the hardest hit.

In the Kashmir Valley, the situation was equally dire. Pakistani artillery shells landed deep inside Indian territory in Uri sector of Baramulla and Tangdhar sector of Kupwara. Shells reportedly reached as far as Gingal village, about 30 kilometres from Baramulla town, injuring 11 civilians. Most of the injuries occurred in Salamabad, near Uri.

A resident of Uri recounted the terrifying ordeal: “At around 11 pm, we went inside the bunkers. After some time, there was intense artillery fire. This is the worst since the ceasefire was renewed in 2021.”

Despite the existence of community and personal underground bunkers, many injuries occurred in villages away from the direct border zones. The shelling impacted areas such as Kamalkote, Salamabad, Dachna, and Gingal, damaging at least 15 houses, officials confirmed.

As tensions remain high along the LoC, the Indian Army has vowed to continue its befitting response while maintaining caution to avoid uncontrollable escalation.

International Response and UN Engagement

India briefed global allies, including the United States and Russia, ahead of the May 7 strikes. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held direct communications with U.S. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, presenting evidence of Pakistan’s complicity.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin both issued strong condemnations of the Pahalgam attack. The United Nations Security Council convened a closed-door meeting on April 25 and, while refraining from issuing a formal resolution, emphasized the need to hold perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism accountable.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that the strikes under Operation Sindoor were measured and proportionate, aimed solely at degrading terror infrastructure and preempting further attacks. No military installations or civilian infrastructure were targeted. In a media briefing, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the situation remained fluid and that India was closely monitoring Pakistan’s response.

What is The Resistance Front (TRF)?

The Resistance Front (TRF) emerged in October 2019, shortly after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 and reorganized the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. Though the group presents itself as an indigenous Kashmiri outfit advocating “resistance,” the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has identified it as a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—a globally proscribed terrorist organization. In 2023, TRF was officially banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to the MHA, TRF was actively recruiting youth online, engaging in terrorist propaganda, orchestrating infiltration, and smuggling weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. Sheikh Sajjad Gul, one of its key commanders, has been designated a terrorist under UAPA provisions.

A government notification detailing the ban noted, “A large number of cases have been registered against TRF members and associates for planning and executing attacks on security forces and civilians, facilitating arms movement, and supporting other banned terrorist groups.”

Pattern of Attacks and Targets

TRF has frequently targeted non-local residents and religious minorities, especially Kashmiri Pandits and Sikh community members. Some of its most heinous acts include:

The murder of chemist Makhan Lal Pandita and school principal Supinder Kaur in 2021.

The 2020 killing of Kashmiri lawyer and activist Babar Qadri, who was critical of militancy and separatism.

Multiple attacks on civilian workers, such as those employed by a private construction company in Ganderbal in 2024.

Its involvement in the Anantnag encounter (2023) and the Reasi pilgrims’ attack (2024).

Operational Tactics and Training

TRF is known for being faceless and tech-savvy, often using body-mounted cameras like GoPro to record attacks on Indian forces. These videos are then circulated on social media as propaganda to inspire new recruits. Initially, its cadre was composed of local Kashmiris trained in Pakistan, some of whom entered the country legally using passports and returned via the Wagah border, according to police intelligence.

Besides online recruitment, highly trained militants continue to be infiltrated via the LoC, enhancing the group's operational capabilities.

Crackdown and Key Losses

Indian Security forces have inflicted significant setbacks on TRF:

In August 2021, its top commander Abbas Sheikh, from Kulgam, was eliminated in Srinagar.

In May 2024, Basit Dar, an ‘A’ category militant associated with more than 18 cases, was neutralized during an anti-terror operation.

Despite these losses, TRF remains a key element of the Pakistan-backed terror ecosystem, leveraging local radicalization, cross-border training, and sophisticated propaganda to destabilize the region.

Pakistani Drone and Missile Attacks Foiled by Indian Air Defence

On the night between May 7 and 8, 2025, Pakistan launched an attempted strike targeting several military installations across Northern and Western India, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

The attempted strikes involved the use of drones and missiles, aimed at critical military sites located in Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.

The Ministry confirmed that the threats were effectively neutralised through a coordinated response by the Integrated Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Grid and Air Defence systems, thereby preventing any damage or escalation.

At the time of posting this news (23.30 hrs IST on May 8), loud explosions were heard across Jammu city and surrounding areas, amid reports that India’s air defence systems were intercepting incoming aerial projectiles from across the border with Pakistan.

The blasts, accompanied by air raid sirens, caused panic in the region, which serves as the winter capital of the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Several residents shared videos online showing glowing objects streaking across the night sky.

Indian defence sources indicated that some of the projectiles were successfully intercepted. However, it remained unclear whether the objects were missiles, drones, or other forms of aerial threats.

Simultaneously, several regions across northern India, including Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and Pathankot in Punjab, came under Pakistani drone and missile attacks, in a sharp escalation of hostilities just one day after India launched airstrikes on terrorist camps inside Pakistan.

India’s air defenses responded swiftly, successfully downing a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet and potentially a JF-17 as well. Additional incoming projectiles were intercepted by Indian air defense systems.