India’s retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack was inevitable. Pakistan had been living in fear of another Indian strike, like the Balakot airstrike or the surgical strikes, that had previously wiped out several terror outfits.
Two of the locations in Pakistan targeted by India during Operation Sindoor on May 7 were also under consideration during the Balakot airstrikes five years ago. Balakot airstrikes were carried out in retaliation for the massive terror attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. These strikes were a direct response to the loss of lives in the attack and were aimed at crippling terrorist networks operating across the border.
However, at that time, New Delhi chose not to attack those sites, as doing so could have been viewed as an “act of aggression.” The recent strikes mark a shift in India’s approach, signaling a more assertive response to cross-border terrorism.
The Key Terror Outfits
Bahawalpur– Jaish-e-Mohammed Headquarters
Bahawalpur is one of the largest cities in Pakistan and is located in the Punjab province. It gained historical significance after Pakistan’s sixth president, Zia Ul-Haq, died in a plane crash there in 1988. Today, the city is also known as the headquarters of the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad, which has been responsible for several deadly attacks in India over the years. Jaish-e-Mohammed is a terrorist organisation led by Masood Azhar. This group has been responsible for or linked to several major attacks in India, including the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing.
Kotli– Bomber Training and Terror Launch Base
Kotli is a city located in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, near the Poonch river. On May 7, the Indian armed forces launched strikes on nine terror hubs across Pakistan and PoK. This operation was carried out in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in the deaths of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen.
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in a selection of targets and the method of execution,” a defence ministry statement said soon after the attack. Pakistan has so far confirmed the attack on 3 sites.
9 Terrorist Sites Targeted
- Markaz Subhan Allah Bahawalpur
- Markaz Taiba, Muridke
- Sarjal / Tehra Kalan
- Mehmoona Joya Facility, Sialkot
- Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala, Bhimber
- Markaz Abbas, Kotli
- Maskar Raheel Shahid, located in Kotli District
- Shawai Nallah Cam in Muzaffarabad
- Markaz Syedna Bilal
