The aftermath of Operation Sindoor has unfolded with a grim human cost and significant military impact on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), as tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following India’s precision strikes early on Wednesday, May 7.
In retaliation for the 25-minute-long Indian operation that struck nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling and arbitrary firing along the LoC and the International Border (IB), killing 15 Indian civilians and injuring 43, according to the Indian Army. The Poonch and Tangdhar regions bore the brunt of this barrage, with widespread destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure. India Today TV reported visuals of completely ruined houses, debris-strewn villages, and shattered glass marking the aftermath of the shelling.
Among the deceased were three Gursikhs, including religious figures, after Pakistani shelling allegedly targeted Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sahib in Poonch. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal strongly condemned the attack, calling for national honours for the slain and demanding adequate compensation for the bereaved families. He reiterated the Sikh community’s unwavering commitment to national service, emphasizing that while peace is the ideal, India must respond decisively when provoked.
India's strikes, carried out under Operation Sindoor, were described by the government as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory”, aimed squarely at terrorist infrastructure and not at civilian or military targets unrelated to terrorism. The strikes came in response to recent terror attacks in Kashmir and targeted camps associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Among the key targets struck were:
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Subhan Allah camp in Bahawalpur (JeM stronghold)
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Masjid wa Markaz Taiba in Muridke (LeT headquarters)
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Gulpur, Sawai, Bilal, Kotli, Barnala, Sarjal, and Mehmoona camps in PoK
Notably, the Subhan Allah camp was obliterated, and JeM chief Masood Azhar confirmed the deaths of 10 family members, including his elder sister, her husband, and several top operatives. Over 80 terrorists were reportedly neutralized in total. All Indian Air Force personnel involved returned safely.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to the shelling by ordering the immediate evacuation of civilians near the LoC and IB. He remains in close coordination with BSF DG Daljit Singh Chawdhary, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, emphasizing that “the safety of Indian citizens is paramount.”
India’s message appears unequivocal: terror will be met with force, but the strikes are tightly calibrated to avoid war escalation. However, with civilian casualties mounting and both militaries on high alert, the situation remains volatile.
