Operation Sindoor:  Late Wednesday night, under Operation Sindoor, India carried out airstrikes on 9 terrorist bases located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

This operation was significant because, for the first time since the 1971 war, the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy carried out a coordinated large-scale strike together.

India targeted locations that had long served as terrorist hubs and had been used to plan attacks on Indian soil.

Here's why these 9 locations were targeted:

???? Bahawalpur (Punjab, Pakistan):

This is the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed. The organization, led by Masood Azhar, was behind major attacks like the Indian Parliament attack and the Pulwama bombing. This made it the top priority for the strike.

???? Muridke (near Lahore):

Home to a training camp of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The terrorists involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks received training here.

???? Kotli (PoK):

A key training ground for suicide bombers and infiltrators. A large number of terrorists are routinely trained at this site.

???? Gulpur (PoK):

This was a launch pad for attacks in Rajouri and Poonch. Terrorists used this route to infiltrate Indian territory.

???? Sawai, Sarjal, and Barnala:

These three locations have been infiltration corridors. Terrorists crossed the LoC and the international border from here into India.

???? Mehmuna (near Sialkot):

An old base of Hizbul Mujahideen. Though its influence has weakened, some training activities still take place here.

By striking these locations, India delivered a significant blow to terrorist organizations:

• Bahawalpur: Markaz Subhan Allah (Jaish-e-Mohammed)
• Muridke: Markaz Taiba (Lashkar-e-Taiba)
• Sarjal: Tehrah Kalan (Jaish-e-Mohammed)
• Sialkot: Mehmuna Zoya (Hizbul Mujahideen)
• Barnala: Markaz Ahle Hadith (Lashkar-e-Taiba)
• Kotli: Markaz Abbas (Jaish-e-Mohammed), Maskar Raheel Shahid (Hizbul Mujahideen)
• Muzaffarabad: Shawai Nala Camp (Lashkar-e-Taiba),
• Sayyidna Bilal Camp (Jaish-e-Mohammed)