New Delhi/Muridke: In a dramatic and unprecedented military operation, India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor have reduced the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) nerve centre in Muridke, Pakistan, to rubble, marking one of the most significant counterterrorism actions since the 1971 war.
The strikes come in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed, including a Nepali national, and were meticulously aimed at terror hubs run by LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
Key Target: Muridke’s Markaz Taiba – LeT’s Heartbeat
- The Markaz Taiba complex in Muridke, Sheikhupura District, served as LeT’s primary training, indoctrination, and operations hub.
- The facility hosted:
- Arms and physical training grounds
- Daura-e-Ribbat intelligence training modules
- Religious radicalisation centres
- Infamous 26/11 terrorists including Ajmal Kasab were trained here. Co-conspirators David Headley and Tahawwur Rana also visited the complex on orders from Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
Details of the Strike
- Sheikhupura District Additional Deputy Commissioner Usman Jaleesm confirmed:
- Four buildings demolished: the administrative block, a mosque, and two residential buildings.
- Strikes occurred around 12:45 am, with four missile strikes executed within 10 minutes.
- Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies, verified by Reuters, shows extensive structural damage to the Jamia Mosque in Bahawalpur and Muridke, confirming the destruction of key terror facilities.
Eyewitness Accounts: “Night Passed in Fear”
- Local Muridke residents described the terrifying night:
- “First a drone came, then three more. The admin office and mosque were hit. One officer on the roof was killed.”
- “People ran into the fields. Fear spread like wildfire.”
Operation Sindoor: A Coordinated Strike by Tri-Services
Briefing Highlights:
- Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Col. Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh led the media briefing.
- Nine terror sites were hit, including five in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and four deep inside Pakistan, across Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Sialkot.
- Targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties, and based on credible intelligence.
Wing Commander Singh stated:
“Operation Sindoor was a retaliation to the horrific Pahalgam attack. The targets were specifically chosen to deliver justice and dismantle a terror infrastructure that has operated for decades.”
- India identified 21 key terror sites run by LeT and JeM, with the nine most critical selected for the strike.
Strategic Significance
- This marks India’s deepest strike into Pakistan’s undisputed territory since the 1971 war.
- It underscores New Delhi’s growing willingness to respond with force to cross-border terror, while maintaining precision and restraint to avoid civilian loss or international escalation.
What’s Next?
- As the situation evolves, India has reiterated it will respond to any further provocation, particularly if civilian infrastructure is targeted by Pakistan.
- Global diplomatic outreach is underway, including briefings to UNSC members and key allies.
- Tensions remain high, but India has maintained that its actions are measured, proportionate, and solely targeting terrorist threats.