India on Wednesday carried out precision strikes across nine locations identified as terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Indian forces hit four targets in Pakistan and five in PoK, using specialised munitions. The strikes were aimed at dismantling infrastructure of terrorist groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).
Briefing on the strikes India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri said that India exercised its right to respond, preempt as well as deter more cross-border attacks such as the one in Pahalgam, and asserted that it focussed on dismantling the terror infrastructure and disabling terrorists.
Misri described the operation as measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible, while military officials said the strikes were executed within 25 minutes, detailing why these specific locations were targeted.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that Operation Sindoor was a "befitting reply' to those who dared to challenge the borders, military and citizens of India.
Shah said that an appropriate response was given to Pakistan without ignoring the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, sending a "strong message" to the world.
At a meeting of chief ministers, DGPs and chief secretaries of the states having borders with Pakistan and Nepal, Shah said the Operation Sindoor was launched against terrorist camps after specific inputs and it is a testament to the Narendra Modi government's zero tolerance policy against terrorism to the entire world.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke to his counterparts from Japan, Germany, France and Spain and apprised them about India's strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir.
"Had a telecon with FM Takeshi Iwaya of Japan. Appreciate the strong condemnation of the April 22 terrorist attack. Discussed India's action against the cross-border terrorist infrastructure this morning," the external affairs minister said on X.
Jaishankar said he had a joint call with French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Germany's Johann Wadephul.
"Appreciated their solidarity and support in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Discussed ensuring zero tolerance for terrorism," he said.
He also said he had spoken to Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
"Good to speak to PM & FM @MBA_AlThani_ of Qatar. Discussed India’s targeted and measured response to deter cross-border terrorism," he wrote on X.
On his phone talks with Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares, Jaishankar posted on X: "Discussed India's firm and measured response to cross-border terrorism."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday said that the UK is engaging with both India and Pakistan to push for dialogue and de-escalation after Indian military strikes on terror targets in the neighbouring country under Operation Sindoor.
Opening the Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session in the House of Commons, Starmer raised the issue of the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
"Rising tensions between India and Pakistan will be of serious concern for many across Britain," Starmer told Parliament.
"We are engaging urgently with both countries, as well as other international partners, encouraging dialogue, de-escalation and the protection of civilians," he said.
The Railway Ministry has cautioned its employees against the Pakistan intelligence agencies' attempt to seek details of the movement of military trains and asserted that the confidential information should not be shared with any unauthorised person.
In its advisory released on May 6, the ministry said divulging such information will be a grave threat to national security.
"Pakistan intelligence operatives may call railway officials and seek confidential information regarding military special train movements," a message from the Railway Board to all Principal Chief Operation Managers of all railway zones, said.
"Disclosing of such information to any unauthorised person other than Mil Rail staff (Military Wing of Railways) by railway officials will be considered as breach of security and will amount to grave threat to national security," it said.
Senior officials on Wednesday held security drills at two key installations in Tamil Nadu, as part of the massive nationwide civil defence mock drill.
The civil defence exercises were held on the premises of the Madras Atomic Power Station at Kalpakkam near here and the Chennai port.
Taking people to locations of safety and hurrying injured persons for treatment were among the scenarios rehearsed.
Officials had already said that "activities will be undertaken in these two vital installations," to handle emergency situations like an incoming air raid.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the Indian Army has acted with precision, alertness, and sensitivity. He stated that the targets set under Operation Sindoor were destroyed with precision as per plan.
Emphasising the nature of the operation, he noted that sensitivity was shown by ensuring no civilian population was affected.
Singh added that with Operation Sindoor, India’s forces have given a befitting reply by destroying terrorist training camps.
He addded that India’s action was taken very thoughtfully and in a measured manner and that this action was limited to camps and other infrastructure of terrorists, with the aim of breaking their morale.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi backed the armed forces and Operation Sindoor conducted earlier today, adding that "INDIA bloc partners also working together."
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Congress top brass, Kharge said, "We take pride in our armed forces for courageous, decisive action against terror camps in Pakistan... We are proud of our security forces that carried out 'Operation Sindoor'."
"INDIA bloc partners also working together, unitedly; We reiterate our support to forces, govt," he added.
Meanwhile, Rahul said, "CWC extends complete support to our forces, best wishes, good luck to them."
Blaring sirens, residents rushing to safer places, injured people being carried away on stretchers -- these were some of the scenes witnessed across the 55 locations where mock security drills were carried out by authorities in the national capital.
Under the nationwide mega civil defence mock drill 'Operation Abhyaas', mock drills simulating multiple hostile scenarios like air raids, multiple fire emergencies, and search and rescue operations among others were carried out.
PCR vans and fire engines were stationed at multiple locations while there was a heavy deployment of security personnel and civil defence volunteers.
The mock drills come amid the missile strikes by the Indian armed forces early Wednesday on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Mock drills featuring civil defence and key emergency responders are being conducted across the country.
The drills are held on the instructions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which directed all states and Union Territories to conduct such exercises in light of the “new and complex threats” following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan's National Security Council on Wednesday said the country's armed forces have been duly authorised to undertake retaliation "at a time, place, and manner of its choosing" to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives in Indian military strikes.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over the National Security Council (NSC) meeting, which was attended by cabinet ministers, chief ministers, all services chiefs and senior officers to discuss the situation.
An NSC statement warned that in consonance with Article-51 of the UN Charter, Pakistan reserves the right to respond, in self-defence, "at a time, place, and manner of its choosing" to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives in the Indian strikes.
"The Armed Forces of Pakistan have duly been authorised to undertake corresponding actions in this regard," the NSC statement said.
Sharif is set to hold a cabinet meeting and share details with the nation through his address in the parliament.
Defence experts hailed the missile strikes carried out by Indian armed forces under 'Operation Sindoor' as a "precision strike" against terror infrastructure and said the action was very much on "expected lines."
Brig Rahul Bhonsle (retd), a strategic affairs expert from Security Risks Asia, said the strike was on expected lines give the preceding chain of events.
"It was expected, as the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Defence Minister had indicated earlier that terrorists and terror infrastructure will be found and hit. So, Operation Sindoor is a result of that," he told PTI.
Brig Bhonsle said it is a "precision strike against terror infrastructure" and it has been declared that "no military installation" has been hit. He further said the US will aim to have this situation not escalate further.
In Dehradun, security and anti-terrorism expert Brig Govind Singh Sisodia (retd), echoed Brig Bhonsle, and said, "It was on expected lines."
"The way India, the Indian government and the PM had said...And, pinpoint targets," he told PTI. He added that a lesson also has gone to Pakistan that "we are not going to do it on small scale, this is just a 'trailer'," and a warning that "they should not go beyond this."
Brig Sisodia said retaliation from Pakistan side is expected, as they will "try to save face, retaliate" but India is "capable of responding" to it.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday told his counterparts in various countries that India has no intent to escalate tensions but is prepared to "retaliate resolutely" if Pakistan does so, officials said.
Doval briefed his counterparts in the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Japan about India's missile strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He also established contact with Russia and France, officials said.
"NSA briefed his counterparts on actions taken and method of execution, which was measured, non-escalatory and restrained. He emphasised that India had no intent to escalate but was well prepared to retaliate resolutely should Pakistan decide to escalate," an official said.
The conversations took place soon after India carried out Operation Sindoor at nine sites.
He spoke to US NSA and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, UK's Jonathan Powell, Saudi Arabia's Musaid Al Aiban, UAE's H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon, and Japan's Masataka Okano.
NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have talked after after Operation Sindoor. Doval told the Foreign Minister that India has no intent to escalate but "was well prepared to retaliate resolutely should Pakistan decide to escalate."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday called an urgent meeting of chief ministers, chief secretaries and DGPs of states having borders with Pakistan and Nepal.
The meeting has been called in the wake of the strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as a retaliatory action against the Pahalgam terror attack, sources said.
They said the meeting, to be held through video conferencing, will be attended by chief ministers, chief secretaries and Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim and West Bengal, besides Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
Shah also reviewed the internal security situation in the country and asked the top security officials to be on alert and keep strict vigil. The home minister has already directed chiefs of all Central Armed Police Forces to call back their personnel who are on leave, sources added.
Following a meeting of the Union Cabinet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan to brief her on 'Operation Sindoor', which targeted nine terrorist bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of Wednesday.
Emergency was declared on Wednesday in Pakistan's Punjab province even as all educational institutions closed in the wake of the Indian missile attack.
"Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has declared a state of emergency across the province," a Punjab government statement said here.
All security agencies, including Punjab police, have been placed on high alert. Leaves of all doctors and medical staff across hospitals in Punjab have been cancelled.
The statement said all staff have been ordered to report for duty immediately and district administrations in all districts of Punjab have also been placed on high alert. Officers and personnel of all relevant institutions, including Civil Defence, have been summoned, it said.
The Pakistan army said that at least 26 people were killed and 46 injured in the Indian strikes launched shortly after midnight on cities in the Punjab province and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has convened an "emergency informal meeting" of senior party leaders present in Delhi at 3 PM on Wednesday to discuss the current security situation, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said.
"Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji has convened an emergency informal meeting of senior leaders present in Delhi, at 3 PM today at 24 Akbar Road, to discuss the current security situation," he wrote on X.
The leaders would discuss 'Operation Sindoor' and laud the courage and achievements of the armed forces, sources said.
The government has convened an all-party meeting on Thursday to brief them about the strike carried out by the armed forces targeting terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Riiiju posted on X about the proposed meeting. "Govt has called an All Party leaders meeting at 11 am on 8th May, 2025 at Committee Room: G-074, in the Parliament Library Building, Parliament Complex in New Delhi," he said.
More than 200 flights have been cancelled and at least 18 airports, including Srinagar, have been temporarily shut for operations amid restrictions in the wake of the armed forces launching missile attacks against Pakistan on Wednesday morning.
Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and a few foreign airlines cancelled their services to and from various airports.
Sources said that at least 18 airports in the northern and western parts of the country have been temporarily shut. These airports include Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, Pathankot, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Shimla, Dharamshala and Jamnagar, they added.
According to sources, more than 200 flights to and from various airports have been cancelled by airlines, with IndiGo alone cancelling around 160 flights. At least 35 flights to and from the Delhi airport, the country's largest and busiest airport, have been cancelled since 12 am.
Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar acknowledged on Wednesday that 10 members of his family and four close associates were killed in India's missile attack on the outfit's headquarters in Bahawalpur.
A statement attributed to Azhar said those killed in the attack on Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur included the JeM chief's elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, another niece, and five children from his extended family.
The statement further mentioned that the attack also claimed the lives of one of Azhar's close associates and his mother, along with two other close companions.
Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the Indian Chargé d'Affaires and lodged a strong protest against the Indian strikes.
The Indian Chargé d'Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to receive Pakistan's strong protest over the unprovoked Indian strikes at multiple locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, Foreign Office said in a statement.
It said that these strikes resulted in the deaths and injuries of several civilians, including women and children.
"It was conveyed that India's blatant act of aggression constitutes a clear violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. Such actions are in contravention of the UN Charter, international law, and established norms governing inter-state relations," FO said.
Pakistan also firmly rejected what it called "India's baseless justifications for its hostile conduct." FO said that the Indian side was warned that such reckless behaviour poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
The operation, which targeted known terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was described by Indian officials as measured, proportionate, and non-escalatory.
This approach reflects a shift in India’s counter-terrorism posture — emphasising limited, intelligence-driven strikes into terror infrastructure wherever it is in Pakistan, as a means of enforcing accountability while trying to manage the risk of broader conflict.
Framed within a larger counter-terror doctrine, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s statement to the press explained the Union government's logic, legality, and limits of India’s military action.
The undertone of his remarks was how India sought to impose escalating costs on Pakistan while avoiding open escalation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has postponed his three-nation visit to Europe in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. He was scheduled to visit Croatia, Norway, and the Netherlands in mid-May.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Union Cabinet, hours after 'Operation Sindoor' was launched to destroy terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
He will also chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS), which will take stock of the evolving situation, sources said.
The meeting is also likely to pass a resolution on the overnight operation carried out by the defence forces, the sources said.
Before the meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval briefed the prime minister on the situation.
The prime minister had earlier given full operational freedom to the armed forces to decide on the targets, manner and timing of the action against terror in the wake of the Pahalgam attack in which 26 tourists were killed.
Retaliating against the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke.
Pahalgam terror victim Lt Vinay Narwal’s mother, Asha Narwal, hailed India’s response to the April 22 attack, saying her family and the nation stand with the government.
“It is a very good thing that Modi has avenged the (Pahalgam) attack. I am with them (the govt), people are with them, and our entire family is with them,” she told reporters in Karnal.
"I want to tell our Army to give a befitting reply so that such incidents (like Pahalgam) do not occur again," she said and added that those who got martyred have got justice.
Narwal (26), recently married, was on his honeymoon in Pahalgam when he was shot dead by terrorists.
The targets were carefully selected to dismantle a network of anti-India terrorist infrastructure. The Strikes were associated with proscribed groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM)—organisations that receive direct support and shelter from Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies.
These groups operate out of training camps (Markaz) and launch pads, many of which are hidden within government-run buildings and institutions. While launch pads are used to stage infiltration attempts and arms training, larger facilities inside Pakistan are used for religious indoctrination, propaganda, logistics, and recruitment.
Col. Sofiya Qureshi, addressing the media, presented videos showing destroyed terror camps, including Mehmoona Joya camp in Sialkot, 12-18 km inside Pakistan.
This is one of the largest Hizbul Mujahideen camps, acting as a key control center for spreading terrorism in the Kathua, Jammu region. The camp was involved in planning and directing the attack on the Pathankot air force base.
Col. Sofiya Qureshi presented videos of destroyed terror camps, including Muridke, where 2008 Mumbai attackers Ajmal Kasab and David Headley were trained.
Col. Sofiya Qureshi, addressing the media, presented videos of destroyed terror camps, including Sarjal in Sialkot, located 6 km inside Pakistan. This camp trained terrorists responsible for killing four J&K police officers.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday directed chiefs of all paramilitary forces to call back their personnel who are on leave in the wake of the strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces in Pakistan as a retaliatory action against the Pahalgam terror attack, sources said.
Shah, who is in regular touch with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, also asked them to ensure that the civilian population living along border areas are brought to safer places.
He also asked the authorities concerned to keep bunkers ready for the shelter of the civilian population in case of emergency, sources said.
The home minister directed chiefs of all Central Armed Police Forces to call back their personnel who are on leave, they said.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi confirmed that nine terrorist camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir were destroyed during Operation Sindoor.
She added that these terror targets were chosen based on credible intelligence and their involvement in cross-border terrorism.
"Operation Sindoor was launched to give justice to victims of Pahalgam terrorist attack. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and destroyed," Col. Qureshi said.
"Over the last three decades, Pakistan has systematically built terror infrastructure. It is a complex web of recruitment and indoctrination centres, training areas for initial and refresher courses and launchpads for handlers," she added.
The Foreign Secretary said India’s operations were necessitated by intelligence indicating impending attacks, adding that New Delhi’s response was “non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible.”
"Our intelligence indicated that further attacks against India are impending. Thus, compulsion, both to deter and prevent and hence earlier this morning, India exercised its right to respond to deter such more cross-border terrorism... Our actions were measured and non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible. They focused on dismantling terrorists' infrastructure," Misri said.
On India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror-bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Foreign Secretary stated unequivocally: "This morning, India exercised its right to dismantle terror infrastructure."
"It was deemed essential that the perpetrators and planners of the Pahalgam attack be brought to justice. Despite a fortnight having passed, there has been no demonstrable step from Pakistan against terrorists' infrastructure in its area," Misri said.
The investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack has uncovered communication links between operatives in Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan, Misri said.
He added that the group called The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. "It's connected with LeT," Misri said.
The attack was aimed at disturbing social situation in Jammu and Kashmir that was witnessing progress, development, says Misri.
Family members were deliberately traumatised through Pahalgam strike, Misri added.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the April 22 terror attack was carried out by a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative.
Calling it the deadliest assault on civilians since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Misri said the motive was to derail the return to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, as tourist footfall in the region had been rising steadily.
He added that Pakistan-backed terror groups aim to keep Jammu and Kashmir economically weak, ensuring it remains a fertile ground for cross-border terrorism.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, along with two young officials from the army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh are briefing the media on Operation Sindoor.
India launched Operation Sindoor early Wednesday morning, striking nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The airstrikes were launched in response to the deadly 22 April terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
Indian forces hit four targets in Pakistan—Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot, and Sarjal—and five in PoK, using specialised munitions.
The strikes were aimed at dismantling infrastructure of terrorist groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM)—organisations that receive direct support and shelter from Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies.
The Indian statement said, "No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution."
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.
Sources added that the strikes on all nine targets were successful and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was monitoring Operation Sindoor closely.
It is learnt that the Indian armed forces used stand-off weapons, drones and precision munitions, besides other weapons in the strike.