On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a major military strike against terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025. That attack killed 26 people—25 Indians and one Nepali, mostly tourists. Imagine losing your family on a vacation—that’s the pain these families felt. India hit back hard, and now the leader of a major terror group has spoken out. Here’s the full story, updated with the latest news, for regular people like us.
What Happened in Operation Sindoor?
Operation Sindoor targeted nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and PoK, focusing on groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Muridke, plus other spots like Kotli, Ahmadpur Sharqia, Muzaffarabad, and Faisalabad. These groups have been behind many attacks on India, including the Pahalgam massacre.
For the first time since the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy worked together. India used a clever strategy called air defense saturation, which is like sending so many distractions that the enemy’s radar gets confused and can’t spot the real attack. They sent drones, loitering munitions (like smart flying robots), SCALP missiles, BrahMos, Spice 2000 bombs, Gaurav bombs, and HAMMER bombs (used by Rafale jets). The Army hit 70% of the targets, and the Air Force handled 30%. No Indian jets were lost, showing how well-planned this was.
India says the strikes killed at least 17 terrorists and injured 60, but unofficial reports claim up to 120 people might have died. Pakistan says civilians, including a child, were killed. No one outside has checked these numbers, so the real human cost isn’t clear yet.
A Terror Chief Speaks: Maulana Masood Azhar’s Statement
A big update came on May 7, 2025, around midday. Maulana Masood Azhar, the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, issued a statement admitting that 10 of his family members, including his elder sister, her husband, a nephew, and his wife, were killed in the Indian missile strikes on his headquarters in Bahawalpur. Azhar also said four close associates died, bringing the total to 14 deaths he acknowledged. He vowed revenge, calling the strikes an attack on his group’s mission. This is the first time Azhar has publicly confirmed such losses, and it shows the strikes hit hard at the heart of JeM—his own family.
But let’s think about this critically. Azhar’s statement, shared through posts on X, confirms the strikes were effective, but it also raises questions. Why is Azhar, a known terrorist under Pakistan’s protection, able to issue statements so freely? And does his vow of revenge mean more attacks are coming? This could make things even more tense between India and Pakistan.
Why Call It “Sindoor”?
The name “Sindoor” has a deep meaning. In Indian culture, sindoor is the red powder married Hindu women wear to show their husbands are alive. The Pahalgam attack targeted Hindu men, including newlyweds, leaving their wives heartbroken. One story that touched many was of Himanshi Narwal, who lost her husband, Navy officer Lt. Vinay Narwal, just six days after their wedding. Sindoor also stands for a warrior’s courage—soldiers often wear it before battle. The name was a message of justice for the victims and a show of bravery.
At around 1 AM on May 7, 2025, the Indian Army posted on X to hint at the coming strikes. They shared a Sanskrit sloka, a short poem with a big meaning:
प्रहाराय सन्निहिताः, जयाय प्रशिक्षिताः
This means “Ready to Strike, Trained to Win.” It’s like saying, “We’re prepared to fight, and we’ll win.” The Army wanted the world to know they were serious about stopping terrorism.
What Did the World Say?
- United States: U.S. President Donald Trump called the India-Pakistan situation a “shame” and hoped it would “end very quickly,” pointing out their long history of conflict.
- United Nations: UN leader Antonio Guterres was worried and asked both countries to stay calm, saying the world can’t afford a big fight between them.
- Other Countries: India told the U.S., UK, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and UAE about the strikes, saying they only targeted terrorists, not Pakistan’s military. But most of these countries haven’t said much, which might mean they’re not fully supporting India’s actions.
Proof of Pakistan’s Role: A Hospital Visit
Two people named Jen and Arminal visited a hospital in Pakistan after the strikes and found something shocking. They saw terrorists injured in the attack being treated under the protection of Pakistan’s Army. This suggests the terrorists work closely with the Army, which could explain why these attacks keep happening. It’s like finding out a bully is being helped by a teacher—now you know why the trouble doesn’t stop. Azhar’s statement adds to this picture, showing how deeply JeM is tied to Pakistan’s system.
Steps India Took Before the Strikes
Before Operation Sindoor, India had already taken big steps against Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack. They stopped sharing river water under the Indus Waters Treaty and cut off trade with Pakistan. It’s like telling a troublesome neighbor, “We’re done.” These actions showed India’s anger, and the strikes were the next step.
Pakistan’s Trick to Hide the Damage
Pakistan is trying to cover up the damage from India’s strikes. They’re using bulldozers in three or four areas to clear away the destroyed terrorist sites, hoping Western media won’t notice the real impact. It’s like cleaning up a messy room before your parents see it—you don’t want them to know what happened. This makes it harder for the world to see the truth about Pakistan’s role in supporting terrorism.
Fake News in India: The Hindu’s False Story
Not everyone in India is helping during this time. A big newspaper, The Hindu, spread false news by showing old pictures of a grounded Indian jet and claiming three Indian jets had crashed in Jammu and Kashmir areas like Aknoor, Ramban, and Pampora. They said government officials told them this, but it wasn’t true—no jets crashed during Operation Sindoor. This kind of fake news can scare people and help India’s enemies. Some call this the “0.5 front”—Indians who work against their own country, almost like hidden enemies. If they’re harming India by spreading lies, why aren’t they called terrorists too?
The Big Questions: Casualties, Risks, and Politics
There are many unanswered questions. India says they only hit terrorists, but Pakistan claims civilians, including a child, died. No one has independently checked who really died, so we don’t know the full truth. Some unofficial reports say 120 people might have died—much more than India’s numbers. Azhar’s statement confirms 14 deaths in his circle, but what about others? It’s like two kids fighting and each blaming the other—we need someone neutral to find out what happened, but there’s no one doing that.
There’s also a risk of a bigger fight. Pakistan fired back by shelling Indian areas, killing three civilians, and their Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the strikes an “act of war.” Azhar’s vow of revenge adds fuel to the fire. Even though India said they didn’t want to make things worse, Pakistan’s reaction and Azhar’s words show how quickly this could get out of hand.
Some people wonder if the timing of the operation was political. The Pahalgam attack made Indians very angry, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were closely involved. Doing something big like this can make the government look strong, especially when people are upset. It’s like a student doing extra work before a test to impress the teacher—sometimes it’s more about looking good than solving the problem.
Will Opposition Leaders Ask for More Proof?
Opposition leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi, and Mamata Banerjee might ask for more proof about the operation. The Indian Army recorded everything using drones, so there’s video evidence. But Kejriwal might say, “Show us the videos to prove no civilians were harmed.” Rahul Gandhi, who praised the operation at first, might ask, “How do we know this won’t lead to a bigger war, especially with Azhar’s threats?” Mamata Banerjee might focus on border safety, saying, “What are you doing to protect our people if Pakistan or JeM attacks back?” They’ll likely push for more details to make sure the government is telling the truth, even if they support fighting terrorism.
What Might Satya Pal Malik Say?
Satya Pal Malik, a former governor of Jammu and Kashmir, has criticized the government before. He might say the Pahalgam attack was planned by Modi’s team to justify this operation and gain public support—like a conspiracy to make the government look good. Malik has made claims like this before, saying the 2019 Pulwama attack happened because of the government’s mistakes. He might ask, “Did Modi’s team plan the Pahalgam attack to start this fight?” Most evidence points to Pakistan-backed terrorists being behind the attack, but Malik’s words could still make people wonder.
What Does This Mean for You?
Operation Sindoor shows India is serious about stopping terrorism, especially with Azhar’s admission proving the strikes hit their target. But it also shows how complicated things are with Pakistan. Here’s what it means for regular people:
- Stay Safe: If you live near the border, be careful. Schools and airports in places like Srinagar and Jammu were closed for safety after the strikes.
- Bigger Picture: A small fight can turn into a big one, especially with Azhar’s vow of revenge. Let’s hope both countries calm down.
- Ask Questions: We should support the Army but also ask for the truth, especially when lives are lost. And we should be careful about fake news—like what The Hindu spread—that can make things worse.
The Army’s message, “Justice is served. Jai Hind,” made many Indians proud, and locals in Jammu and Kashmir were chanting “Indian Army Zindabad” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” But as citizens, we should keep asking questions to make sure our leaders are doing the right thing—for today and for a peaceful tomorrow.
Unmukt 
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