India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, marked a significant escalation in India-Pakistan tensions as Indian forces targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, eliminating five key terrorists-three from Jaish-e-Mohammed and two from Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The operation came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians in April. In the aftermath, both countries have exchanged heavy cross-border fire, resulting in mounting civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
The United States and the United Nations have called for immediate de-escalation, while both governments maintain their resolve and readiness for further action.
Five Key Terrorists Killed in Operation Sindoor on May 7
- Mudassar Khadian Khas (Abu Jundal)
- Affiliation: Lashkar-e-Taiba
- Role: In-charge of Markaz Taiba, Muridke, Pakistan
- Notable: Received guard of honour at funeral by Pakistan Army; funeral attended by senior military and police officials
- Hafiz Muhammed Jameel
- Affiliation: Jaish-e-Mohammed
- Role: Eldest brother-in-law of Maulana Masood Azhar; in-charge of Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur
- Activities: Radical indoctrination of youth and fundraising for JeM
- Mohammad Yusuf Azhar (Ustad Ji)
- Affiliation: Jaish-e-Mohammed
- Role: Brother-in-law of Masood Azhar; weapons trainer for JeM
- Notable: Linked to multiple terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir and the IC-814 hijacking case
- Khalid (Abu Akasha)
- Affiliation: Lashkar-e-Taiba
- Role: Orchestrated multiple terrorist attacks in Jammu & Kashmir; involved in weapons smuggling from Afghanistan
- Funeral held in Faisalabad with attendance of senior Pakistani officials
- Mohammad Hassan Khan
- Affiliation: Jaish-e-Mohammed
- Role: Son of Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, operational commander of JeM in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
- Activities: Coordinated terrorist attacks in Jammu & Kashmir
Escalation and Civilian Impact
After Operation Sindoor, violence has surged. On May 10, shelling killed Raj Kumar Thappa, a district commissioner in Rajouri, as confirmed by Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister and India’s Foreign Secretary.
At least 13 civilians died and 59 were injured in Poonch due to Pakistani shelling, while Pakistan claims 31 civilian deaths from Indian strikes. Both sides report attacks on civilian and military sites, with schools, hospitals, and places of worship affected. India claims to have shot down drones and intercepted missiles, while Pakistan says it downed several Indian drones and jets.
Diplomatic Fallout and Global Response
Diplomatic ties have frayed: India expelled Pakistani diplomats, suspended visas, and withdrew from the Indus Waters Treaty, while Pakistan closed airspace and border crossings.
The US and UN have urged restraint, with the US Secretary of State speaking to both sides and condemning the April Pahalgam attack. Both countries accuse each other of misinformation and targeting civilians, with international observers unable to verify many battlefield claims.
