All You Need to Know About Operation Sindoor

1. WHEN AND WHY

India carried out Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of May 6 and 7 to avenge the 26 innocent lives that were lost in the Pahalgam terror attack, which took place on April 22. Indian tourists from several states, a Kashmiri local and a Nepali citizen were the victims of the Pahalgam attack.

2. SIGNIFICANCE OF NAME

With the name ‘Operation Sindoor’, the government signaled its intention to avenge the widowed women, who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam attack.

The terrorists had killed only men during the attack, leaving several women widowed. Sindoor, also known as vermilion powder, is a traditional symbol of marriage for Hindu women. It is typically applied along the parting of their hair or on the forehead by married women, and is removed upon widowhood.

3. ARMY STATEMENT

#PahalgamTerrorAttack

Justice is Served.

Jai Hind!

The Indian Army wrote this on X (formerly Twitter) at 1:51 am on May 7, confirming the attack.

A press release by the Indian government read, “We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable.”

4. LOCATIONS OF ATTACK

According to a statement released by the Indian government, India attacked and successfully neutralised 9 terror facility locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution,” the release read.

The government said the Army targeted terror camps of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizb-ul Mujahideen.

5. MASOOD AZHAR’S FAMILY MEMBERS KILLED

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar claimed that 10 members of his family were killed in the attack.

It is reported that among the deceased were Azhar’s elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, a niece, and five children from his extended family. Apart from his family members, one of his key associates, his mother, and two other close companions were also killed.

6. PAKISTAN’S REACTION

In his address to the nation on Wednesday night, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif said, “Pakistan will take revenge. We will take this war to the end.” He also claimed that Pakistan downed several Indian Air Force planes when India launched Operation Sindoor.

Pakistan government has authorised its armed forces to undertake actions in response to Operation Sindoor. Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan is ready to “wrap up” tensions with India if New Delhi de-escalates the situation.

7. WORLD LEADERS’ REACTION

Several world leaders have reacted to the India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor. US President Donald Trump has said that he is hoping the tensions end quickly. “I want to see them stop. They have done tit for tat, hopefully they can stop now,” Trump said.

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak showed his support to India. “No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from land controlled by another country. India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists,” Sunak said.

China has called for India and Pakistan to show restraint. “India and Pakistan are and will always be each other’s neighbours. They’re both China’s neighbours as well. China opposes all forms of terrorism,” a statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan has expressed his outright solidarity with Pakistan against India’s Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, Israel showed its support to India, stating, “Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent.”

8. FLIGHTS SUSPENDED, PAK ON RED ALERT

Nearly 25 airports in northern India have suspended civil flight operations after India carried out Operation Sindoor. The airports are expected to remain closed for commercial operations till morning of May 10.

Airports impacted by the closure include Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Gwalior, Rajkot, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Dharamshala, Bathinda, Shimla, Hindon, Kishangarh, and Kandla.

Furthermore, Pakistan has declared a ‘red alert’ nationwide. All government hospitals have been instructed to operate in emergency mode, and the country’s airspace has been closed to both domestic and international flights for a period of 24 to 36 hours.

9. POONCH ATTACK

Pakistan resorted to heavy artillery firing and shelling along the Line of Control following the Operation Sindoor. At least 15 civilians were killed in Poonch, while 30 others were injured in Pakistan Army firing and shelling. 13 others were injured in other areas along the LoC.

Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar of the Indian Army was martyred in Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control on Wednesday.

10. WHAT’S NEXT?

Civil defence mock drills are being conducted across several districts in India. Blackout exercise was conducted in cities like Patna, Delhi and Amritsar, among others on Wednesday. Under the mock drills, citizens are being made aware about how to react during air raid sirens.

Governments worldwide have urged both the countries to show restraint and de escalate. The intervening night of May 7-8 was comparatively silent. Indian authorities have said that they are on high alert and are prepared for a possible response from Pakistan.

UPDATE: MAY 10: 32 Airports closed in North India till May 14, full list: