New Delhi: Indian armed forces on early Wednesday obliterated the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) infamous Markaz Tayyeba complex in Pakistan’ Muridke in a meticulously planned military operation. The Markaz was most famous for being the “terror nursery” of Pakistan.
Codenamed “Operation Sindoor”, the joint mission involving the Army, Air Force, and Navy struck nine terror-linked targets across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). It was launched in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. At least 26 civilians were killed when terrorists opened fire on unsuspecting tourists.
The sprawling Markaz Tayyeba complex in Muridke, near Lahore has often been referred to by Indian intelligence as Pakistan’s “terror nursery”. The 82-acre compound — the headquarters of LeT and its front organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawa — was flattened by precision airstrikes, leaving behind nothing but rubble. Indian officials confirmed the elimination of two high-value Lashkar operatives: Hafiz Abdul Malik, a top LeT commander, and Mudasir, the group’s strategic operations mastermind.
Funded by Osama bin Laden
Established in 2000 and allegedly funded in part by Osama bin Laden, Markaz Tayyeba served as the epicentre of LeT’s operations, housing madrassas, recruitment centres, arms training facilities, and even indoctrination units for both men and women. It was instrumental in training operatives involved in major terror attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Intelligence reports over the years have pointed to the presence of more than 1,000 recruits annually being radicalised and trained within its premises.
India’s Ministry of Defence described the strikes as a “precise and restrained response” to the barbaric Pahalgam attack. “This operation underscores India’s resolve to hold perpetrators accountable while avoiding unnecessary provocation. No Pakistani military installations were targeted,” the statement read.
Nine terror infra hubs attacked
In addition to Muridke, Indian forces also struck terror hubs in Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad — known strongholds of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba proxies. The Bahawalpur strike is particularly significant as it is the hometown and base of JeM chief Masood Azhar, a UN-designated terrorist and mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
By decimating Markaz Tayyeba, India has not merely neutralised infrastructure but has targeted the very symbol and nerve centre of Lashkar’s jihadist apparatus.
While Islamabad has yet to officially acknowledge the strikes, preliminary reports from local media in Pakistan’s Punjab province indicate heavy damage in Muridke, with security cordons placed around the obliterated Markaz site.
