New Delhi: In overnight aerial strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) by Indian forces, nine terror camps that were used by terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad were destroyed. These camps used to carry out terrorist attacks in India. ‘Operation Sindoor’ was the codename given to this military strike on terrorist training camps.
The world must show zero tolerance for terrorism. #OperationSindoor pic.twitter.com/dmcCLfbMjN
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 7, 2025
Operation Sindoor
The military strike began at 1.25 am on Wednesday, May 7. The strike was a response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. In this terrorist attack, 26 people were killed. According to several media reports, nearly 100 terrorists have been killed and over 60 wounded. It is considered the biggest anti-terror operation inside Pakistan and also the biggest military strike since the 1971 war.
Military Operations in the Past
In the past, all Indian military operations against Pakistan have had conventional military names that inspired confidence internally and sent a message of strength. India has used codenames like Operation Meghdoot, Operation Vijay, Operation Bandar, and Operation Safed Sagar, among others, in conflicts with Pakistan. Let us look at the past military operations against Pakistan.
Operation Ablaze
In May and June 1965, the Indian Army carried out operations along the western border after a Pakistani attack in the Rann of Kutch. These operations occurred between the earlier Operation Kabaddi in April 1965 and Pakistan’s Operation Gibraltar.
Operation Riddle
Operation Riddle was India’s military response to Pakistan’s attacks in 1965, known as Operation Gibraltar and Grand Slam. When Pakistan crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and entered Jammu and Kashmir, India launched Operation Riddle on September 6, 1965. This operation was aimed at Lahore and Kasur and had a strong negative impact on the Pakistan military.
Operation Cactus Lilly
Operation Cactus Lily, also called the Meghna Heli Bridge, was an important military mission during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. It involved the Indian Army and Air Force crossing the Meghna River to go around a Pakistani stronghold and move toward Dhaka. This operation used Mi-4 helicopters for transport and was essential for the Indian forces to surround Dhaka and win the war.
Operation Trident
Operation Trident was an offensive launched by the Indian Navy against Karachi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Conducted on the night of December 4–5, it marked the first use of anti-ship missiles in the region and resulted in significant damage to Pakistani vessels and facilities. While India had no losses, Pakistan lost a minesweeper, a destroyer, an ammunition cargo vessel, and fuel tanks. Another destroyer was severely damaged. India commemorates this operation with Navy Day on December 4, followed by Operation Python three days later.
Operation Python
Operation Python was a naval attack by the Indian Navy on Karachi, West Pakistan, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, following Operation Trident. After the first attack, Pakistan increased aerial surveillance as Indian Navy ships indicated another attack was possible. To mislead India, Pakistani warships mingled with merchant ships. In response, India launched Operation Python on the night of December 8-9, 1971, with one missile boat and two frigates targeting ships off Karachi’s coast.
Operation Meghdoot
Operation Meghdoot, which began on April 13, 1984, was the Indian Armed Forces’ mission to take control of the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh. This operation prevented Pakistan’s Operation Ababeel and resulted in India gaining full control of the glacier. The Indian Army is the only army in the world to use tanks and heavy weapons at altitudes over 5,000 meters.
Operation Vijay
Operation Vijay was the name of the Indian military operation that started in May 1999. Its goal was to reclaim areas Pakistani forces took during the Kargil War. The operation successfully made Pakistani troops withdraw and helped India regain important positions, resulting in India’s victory.
Operation Safed Sagar
Operation Safed Sagar was the name for the Indian Air Force’s air operations during the 1999 Kargil War. The operation included air strikes, especially precise airstrikes, to remove enemy forces from their positions in the high mountains. This operation was important because it was the first major use of air power in the Jammu and Kashmir region since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
2016 surgical strikes
Indian special forces carried out an operation in response to the Uri attack, which was known as a surgical strike. This operation targeted terrorist launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC).
Operation Bandar
In February 2019, members of the group Jaish-e-Mohammed attacked a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. In response, the Indian Air Force launched Operation Bandar. They carried out air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Balakot, Pakistan, claiming to have killed several terrorists.