OPERATION SINDOOR (11 & 12 May 2025)

At a joint press conference and briefing on 11 May at 6:30pm, the Indian Armed Forces shared satellite images that revealed visual evidence of the destruction caused by Operation Sindoor at terror sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The visuals showed before-and-after comparisons of two prominent targets: Muridke and Bhawalpur, as well as India's retaliatory strikes on Pakistan's air defence radars and airfields.

(Photo: NDTV)

India's calibrated military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack targeted terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) - which were home to operational centres for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen. In an overnight attack a few days before, the Indian Armed Forces carried out the missile strikes on nine terrorist facilities - four in Pakistan (Bhawalpur, Muridke, Sarjal and Mehmoona Joya), and five in PoK (Sawai Nala, Muzaffarabad, Syedna Bilal, Muzaffarabad, Gulpur, Kotli, Barnala, Bhimber, and Abbas, Kotli).

Before and after pictures of Operation Sindoor in Murdike - Point 1 and 2. Murdike, a major commercial hub, is home to the headquarters of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. It is known as the "terror nursery" of Pakistan. LeT's headquarters is reportedly spread over approximately 200 acres and houses a terror training camp and other infrastructure.

Bhawalpur—before and after. There are many more images from the same and other area but we aren’t putting any more in this article for the sake of brevity.

Operation Sindoor on Pakistan's airfields

After India launched precision cruise missile strikes at terror infrastructure to avenge the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan escalated the situation by attacking civilian areas in India with drones. In response, India hit selected military targets deep inside Pakistani territory such as radar installations, command and control centres, and ammunition depots in Rafiqui, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Sialkot among others. According to the Indian military, the country's actions on the nights of 9 and 10 May were the first instance of a country damaging air force camps of a nuclear country. "Within three hours, 11 bases were attacked, including Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skaru, Bholari, and Jacobabad," Air Marshal AK Bharti stated at a press conference on 11 May. "It was time to convey some message to the adversary... hit where it would hurt. India's retaliation though was precise, and measured. We have the ability to target every system in the air bases, but we showed restraint to avoid escalation," he added.

11 May night was the "first calm" night along the Line of Control (LoC) in the recent days, the Indian Army said. "The night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the International Border. No incidents have been reported, marking the first calm night in recent days," stated the Army. The Indian government has clarified, both for the world and Pakistan, that it went for the "snake's head and not foot soldiers" this time, demonstrating its new approach to kill terrorists within Pakistan. "India showed the world that it will not wait for permission to defend its people. Terror will be punished - anytime, anywhere. It also showed that terrorists and their masterminds have no place to hide," said officials at the briefing.

12 May

At 12:30pm, Indian DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai and his Pak counterpart Maj Gen Kashif Abdullah held their scheduled hotline chat (3rd time in 3 days). Both acknowledged first night without hostilities. This came after first ‘peaceful’ night since beginning of hostilities. Meanwhile, Indian PM Modi chaired a high level meeting at his residence. EAM Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, CDS, 3 Service Chiefs, foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, top officials were present.

“From India's latest briefing on Operation Sindoor, here is an updated list of military/terror-affiliated sites targeted by New Delhi in Pakistan, some over 165-km inside”, according to Damien Symon of @detresfa_ .

Left image: “Clearer imagery released by an Indian firm (KAWASPACE) spotlights damage at Pakistan’s Bholari Airbase - the Indian Air Force strike appears to have severely damaged a hangar, debris visible along with structural damage, runway proximity = possible quick reaction role for the hangar (?). On the right, Chinese Firm MAZARVISION also released an image showing the same damage to Bholari”. (Images and text courtesy: Damien Symon @detresfa_ )

Information collected and collated courtesy: The Vayu Team. Additionally, special thanks to PIB/MoD, Shiv Aroor and Vishnu Som from NDTV, Snehesh Alex Philip, The Times of India, Indian Express, Hindustan Times and Damien Symon.