- By Raju Kumar
- Wed, 07 May 2025 01:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Operation Sindoor: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first reaction hours after the Indian armed forces launched air strikes in Pakistan and PoK, detroying terror camps in response to the Pahalgam attack. He praised the armed forces for launching the air strikes during the Cabinet meeting. PTI quoting the sources said that the Cabinet also lauded action by security forces and PM Modi's leadership.
Earlier, PM Modi chaired a Cabinet meeting in which his Union Ministers hailed military action by by thumping the desk. During the meeting, PM Modi informed the cabinet that the operation was executed exactly as planned, with "no mistakes whatsoever." He emphasised that the Army had carried out the mission with utmost precision, adhering strictly to the detailed preparations that had been made in advance. Sources said the Prime Minister praised the armed forces for their "commendable job" and "immaculate execution," underlining their professionalism and commitment to national security. The Cabinet ministers unanimously expressed confidence in PM Modi's leadership and lauded the armed forces for their successful operation.
India Avenges Pahalgam Terror Attack
Meanwhile, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes early Wednesday on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base Muridke.
The military strikes were carried out under 'Operation Sindoor' two weeks after the massacre of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
"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," the defence ministry said in a statement at 1.44 am.
It said the actions by the Indian armed forces have been "focused, measured and non-escalatory" in nature and that no Pakistani military facilities have been targeted.
"India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution," it said. Sources said the strikes on all nine targets, including Bahawalpur and Muridke, were successful and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was monitoring 'Operation Sindoor' closely.
Muridke, located a short distance from Lahore, is home to a sprawling "markaz" or base of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Bahawalpur is the main stronghold of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
The other targets -- Kotli and Muzaffarabad -- are regions in PoK where both LeT and JeM have for long had camps and training facilities, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.
The name for the action -- Operation Sindoor -- is a reference to the red vermillion that Hindu women wear to signify their married status. In the Pahalgam terror attack, the husbands of several women were killed in front of them including an Indian Navy officer.
The terror attack triggered widespread outrage in India and abroad, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing to deal a "crushing blow to terrorism".
"These steps come in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered," the defence ministry said in the statement. "We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable," it said.
In a post on 'X' in Hindi shortly after the strikes, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said: "Long live Mother India!" (Bharat Mata Ki Jai).
Pakistan Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that missile strikes were carried out by India at Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Bahawalpur in Punjab.
"All of our air force jets are airborne. This cowardly and shameful attack was carried out from within India's airspace. They were never allowed to come and intrude into the space of Pakistan," he said.
"In an unprovoked and blatant act of war, the Indian Air Force, while remaining within Indian airspace, has violated Pakistan's sovereignty using standoff weapons, targeting the civilian population across the international border in Muridke and Bahawalpur, and across the Line of Control in Kotli and Muzaffarabad," it said.