India’s early morning Operation Sindoor on Wednesday sent a seismic shock across the border, targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with deadly precision. The strikes came at 1:05 AM, catching Pakistan completely off guard and setting off a flurry of military, civilian, and diplomatic responses in both nations.
According to Indian officials, the highly coordinated missile strikes were based on credible intelligence inputs, aimed to “break the backbone of terrorism” in response to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 civilians. The action was not only anticipated following PM Modi’s stern warnings, but also executed at a time Pakistan was “deep asleep,” adding to its strategic impact.
Key Indian Actions Post-Strike
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LoC Evacuation: Civilians in border villages across Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Uttarakhand were moved to bunkers.
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High Alert: All forces deployed along the western borders were placed on maximum alert.
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Paramilitary Leaves Cancelled: Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed all paramilitary chiefs to recall troops on leave.
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School Closures:
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Punjab: Schools shut in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, and Gurdaspur.
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Rajasthan: Holidays declared in Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Sri Ganganagar.
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Kartarpur Corridor Closed: The Dera Baba Nanak crossing was shut for the day.
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Airports Shut: 18 airports in northern and western India—including Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer—were temporarily closed.
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Flight Disruption: Over 450 flights were cancelled or rerouted; airlines issued advisories amid airspace restrictions.
Pakistan’s Reaction
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Airspace Closed: Pakistan sealed its airspace for 48 hours post-strike.
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Emergency in Punjab Province: Emergency declared across Pakistani Punjab, with:
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All schools shut.
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Doctors’ and hospital staff leave has been cancelled.
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Police and emergency services oare n high alert.
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Government Acknowledgement: Pakistan confirmed the strikes did not violate its airspace and stated that 28 people were killed.
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Threat of Retaliation: Pakistan’s armed forces were "authorised to undertake corresponding actions", though no immediate response had occurred at the time.
The swift action and heavy precautions on both sides underscore the fragile state of bilateral ties, even as Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made remarks hinting at possible de-escalation if India stepped back.
