Muzaffarabad [PoK]: Shelling was reported early Wednesday in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), as part of India’s precision military strikes under Operation Sindoor, leading to the destruction of several terror-linked structures, including a mosque.
“Suddenly, shelling started. I think about 10 to 15 missiles hit here,” said Ahmed Abbasi, a local resident, as quoted by Reuters. Abbasi said that the mosque also housed a madrasa, which was among the structures destroyed.
According to sources, one of the targets hit was the Shawai Nallah Camp, also known as Bait-ul-Mujahideen, located on Muzaffarabad–Neelum Road. This camp has long been a significant base for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), where attackers involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Ajmal Kasab, reportedly received training.
Pakistan’s Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed the missile strikes by India, stating that 24 impacts had been recorded.
“A total of 24 impacts have been reported by India, with different weapons,” he said during a press conference held at 4:08 AM on Wednesday.
The ISPR confirmed that strikes occurred at multiple locations:
- Ahmedpur East, Bahawalpur — near the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah, a known Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) stronghold.
- Muzaffarabad — near the Bilal Mosque.
- Muridke, Kotli, Kotki Lohara in Sialkot, and near Shakargarh.
ISPR also acknowledged that one mosque in the JeM complex in Bahawalpur was destroyed.
In New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a press briefing, emphasized the necessity of bringing the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to justice.
“Pakistan has been known to wilfully mislead the world and international forums… The recent attack in Pahalgam has understandably generated deep anger in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India… Despite a fortnight having passed, there has been no demonstrable step from Pakistan to take action against terrorists’ infrastructure in its territory or territory under its control. Instead, all it has indulged in are denials and allegations.”
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi provided operational details:
“Operation Sindoor was launched to give justice to victims of Pahalgam terrorist attack. Nine terrorist camps were targeted and completely destroyed.”
The coordinated operation by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force targeted nine terror locations — four in Pakistan (including Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot) and five in PoJK.
India’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that the action was in direct response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, which killed 26 civilians, including one Nepali national, and injured several others.
“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 Ministry said.
“Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” the statement added.
Sources confirmed that all nine targets were successfully hit, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi monitored the operation throughout the night. The selected targets were aimed at eliminating senior JeM and LeT leaders involved in cross-border terrorism against India.