May 7, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has postponed his scheduled visit to Norway, Croatia, and the Netherlands, in light of rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. The brutal attack claimed the lives of 26 people and left many injured, intensifying diplomatic and military responses from New Delhi.
In direct response, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of Wednesday, targeting nine terror camps—four located in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The strikes were conducted between 1:05 am and 1:30 am and represented a highly coordinated operation involving the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Operation Sindoor was designed to eliminate key terrorist infrastructure believed to be responsible for orchestrating the Pahalgam massacre. Intelligence reports had pointed to involvement from Pakistan-based terror outfits, notably Lashkar-e-Taiba’s offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF).
At a press briefing in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh outlined the objectives and outcomes of the operation. According to Colonel Qureshi, the Indian Armed Forces successfully neutralized key camps deep inside enemy territory.
She identified the following Pakistani terror camps targeted and destroyed:
- Sarjal Camp, Sialkot: Located 6 km inside Pakistan, this camp trained militants involved in the March 2025 killing of four J&K police personnel.
- Mehmoona Joya Camp, Sialkot: Situated 12-18 km inside Pakistan, this Hizbul Mujahideen stronghold was instrumental in directing terrorism in the Kathua and Jammu regions and linked to the Pathankot Air Force base attack.
- Markaz Taiba, Muridke: Famously associated with the 2008 Mumbai attacks, where Ajmal Kasab and David Headley reportedly trained.
- Markaz Subhanallah, Bahawalpur: Located 100 km inside Pakistan, this camp served as the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Colonel Qureshi emphasized that the operation was meticulously planned to avoid military installations and civilian areas. “No military installation was targeted, and as of now, there are no reports of civilian casualties,” she clarified.
The cancellation of PM Modi’s Europe tour underscores the seriousness of the current national security situation. Officials have not specified a new date for the visit, indicating that the government’s focus remains firmly on managing the fallout of the recent terror strike and ensuring national security.