Published: May 7, 2025 7:44 pm
Author: RT
New Delhi has said the facilities were used by Islamabad to train terrorists
India conducted a series of strikes against nine suspected terror-linked sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the early hours of Wednesday. The pre-dawn operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, was carried out jointly by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, according to officials.
The Indian government has identified several locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir that it says were used as terrorist camps.
The list of locations released by New Delhi includes the Sawai Nala camp in Muzaffarabad, located about 30km from the Line of Control (LOC), the de facto border between the South Asian neighbors. India said the camp was a key training facility for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based jihadist militant organization.
Terrorists trained there carried out attacks on civilians and security forces in Gulmarg and Sonmarg last year, as well as the Pahalgam attack, the Indian government alleges.
Another camp targeted was the Syedna Belal camp in Muzaffarabad which was allegedly used as a staging area by Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist group, another militant group, to carry out attacks across the LOC. Terrorists were given training there in weapons, explosives, and jungle survival, New Delhi stated.
#WATCH |Delhi | #OperationSindoor| Wing Commander Vyomika Singh says, “Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed…… pic.twitter.com/Gmw6WHrYVO
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2025
The Gulpur camp, situated in Kotli, approximately 30km from the LOC, allegedly served as a base camp for Lashkar-e-Taiba. Terrorists trained at this camp were known to operate in the Rajouri-Poonch region and were responsible for carrying out attacks in Poonch in 2023, as well as an attack on a bus carrying pilgrims the previous year, according to the Indian government.
Notably, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the mastermind behind the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks, reportedly visited this camp for the purpose of indoctrinating recruits.
Another site targeted last night is the Abbas camp, situated in Kotli, about 13km from the LOC. It is suspected of being the primary training facility for Lashkar-e-Taiba’s suicide bombers.
#OperationSindoor | Indian Army releases videos of Indian strikes on Pakistani terror camps. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and successfully destroyed.
(Videos Source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/qqzCG5ae1S
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2025
The Barnala camp, located in Bhimber, about 9km from the LO, too allegedly functioned as a training facility for terror recruits. At this camp, recruits were believed to have received instruction in the use of weapons and explosives, as well as training in jungle survival techniques to prepare them for operational activities.
The Sarjal camp, situated in Sialkot, was about 6km from the internationally recognized border with India. New Delhi said this facility was notable for being the training ground for terrorists responsible for a deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir in March this year, which resulted in the deaths of four police.
During the Press Briefing on #OperationSindoor, a video was presented outlining the continuous series of terrorist attacks against India
▪️More than 350 Indian civilians have succumbed to cross-border terrorism in the past decade
▪️800 were injured in these dastardly acts of… pic.twitter.com/OLmL1DsWG7— PIB India (@PIB_India) May 7, 2025
The Mehmoona Joya camp was located near Sialkot, about 12km from the India border. This camp allegedly served as a training facility for the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist organization and was also utilized as a hub for spreading terrorism in the Kathua-Jammu region.
Notably, the 2016 attack on the Pathankot airbase in Kashmir was directed from this camp, highlighting its significance in planning and coordinating terrorist operations, according to India.
The Markaz Taiba camp, located in Muridke, approximately 25km from the border with India, is believed to have served as the headquarters of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist organization. New Delhi said this camp was the training ground for Ajmal Kasab, a terrorist who was captured alive during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and confessed to receiving his training here. Additionally, American national David Headley, a key figure accused in the Mumbai attacks, also reportedly received training at this camp.
In Bahawalpur, Pakistan, around 100km from the internationally recognized border between the two states, the Markaz Subhan camp was believed to be the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist group. This camp was utilized for various purposes, including recruitment, training, and indoctrination of potential recruits, India said, adding that prominent terror commanders, such as Maulana Masood Azhar, leader of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, frequented this camp.
