Hours after India conducted a series of strikes on terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), dubbed Operation Sindoor, the government said that the hits had destroyed the camp where terrorists Ajmal Kasab and David Headley had trained.
The government further said that the strikes were measured and non-escalatory in nature and was aimed at dismantling the terror infrastructure. “Operation Sindoor was launched to deliver justice to the victims of Pahalgam,” they added.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh were briefing the media in New Delhi said the Indian forces struck key locations, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muridke. Of the nine identified targets, four were located in Pakistan, while the remaining five were in PoK.
Markaz Taiba in Muridke, Pakistan, is a well-known terrorist training camp and the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), led by Hafiz Saeed. It is located approximately 25 kilometers from the India-Pakistan international border, in Punjab province, Pakistan.
Terrorists trained at this facility have been linked to several major attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The terror camp, known as Markaz Taiba, was where 26/11 attackers Ajmal Kasab and David Headley received training.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “Azmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist captured alive after Mumbai Attack had confessed of having received training at Muridke. As per inputs, it was revealed that David Coleman Headley had also received training at this camp.” Terror outfits operating from its territory, 10 members of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar were killed in India’s retaliatory strikes
Col Qureshi said that Operation Sindoor was launched to give justice to victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack as nine terrorist camps were targeted and destroyed in Pakistan. She stated that the operation was carried out between 1:05 am to 1:30 am on Wednesday.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh said, “Operation Sindoor was carried out by the Indian Armed Forces to provide justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed. The locations were selected to avoid damage to civilian infrastructure and to avoid loss of any civilian life.”
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday instructed the chiefs of all paramilitary forces to recall their personnel who are on leave, following the strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces in Pakistan as a retaliatory measure against the Pahalgam terror attack, sources said.
Shah, who has been in constant touch with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, also instructed them to ensure the safety of civilians living along border areas by relocating them to safer locations. Additionally, he directed the concerned authorities to have bunkers prepared for the civilian population in case of an emergency, according to sources.
The Home Minister directed the chiefs of all Central Armed Police Forces to recall their personnel who are currently on leave, sources confirmed. Additionally, Shah reviewed the internal security situation in the country and instructed top security officials to remain on high alert and maintain strict vigilance.