Operation Sindoor explained: Why these 9 terror hideouts were chosen by the Army

NEW DELHI: Indian Army on Wednesday destroyed 9 terror hideouts of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen under 'Operation Sindoor' in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.


The IAF carried out precision strikes in four locations within Pakistan's territory, while five targets were situated in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. According to the ministry of defence, the operation was "focused, measured and non-escalatory" and avoided any Pakistani military facilities.

"These steps come in the wake of the barbaric Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered," the Defence Ministry said in the statement.

"We are living up to the commitment that those responsible for this attack will be held accountable," it said.

Here's why India targeted these sites in Pakistan and PoK

Markaz Subhan Allah , Bahawalpur

• Markaz Subhan Allah was located at NH-5 (Karachi-Torkham Highway) on the outskirts of Bahawalpur at Karachi Mor in Bahawalpur district of Pakistan's Punjab province. According to news agency ANI, this was the main centre of Jaish-e-Mohammed for training and indoctrination of youth which is spread over a 15-acre area.
• This infrastructure served as the operational headquarter of JeM and associated with terrorist plannings including Pulwama attack on Feb 14, 2019. The terrorists involved in the attack were trained in this camp .
• The Markaz also consists of residences of JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, de-facto Chief of JeM Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar and other family members.
• Besides the residences of these important JeM functionaries, the complex also houses more than 600 cadres. Maulana Rafiqullah, former religious trainer at Markaz Usman-o-Ali is chief instructor at this Markaz since mid-2022.
• The organization was ostensibly banned by Pakistan in January, 2002 under international pressure after the group carried out a terror attack on the Indian Parliament in December, 2001.

Markaz Taiba , Muridke - LeT

• Established in 2000, Markaz Taiba is the 'alma mater' and the most important training centre of LeT located in Nangal Sahdan, Muridke, Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan.
• The complex, spread across 82 acres, comprises of madrassa, market, residential area for terror entities, sports facility, a fish farm and agricultural tracts.
• Osama Bin Laden had financed Rs 10 million for construction of Mosque & Guest House within the Markaz Taiba complex in the year 2000.
• The complex held arms and physical trainings facility, as well as for dawa'h and radicalisation/indoctrination for terror entities both from within Pakistan and abroad.
• Sufa Academy, located in the Markaz catering to religious indoctrination for male cadres and a separate Sufa education centre for women.
• This served as mushrooming ground for radicalisation of students to motivate them to join armed jihad. It can be compared to a terror factory.
• This markaz enrols around 1000 students in different courses annually there by highlighting the role of this markaz in churning out terror entities for LeT annually.

Mehmoona Joya, Sialkot - Hizbul Mujahideen

• Mehmoona Joya facility of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) was located near Kotli Bhutta Govt. Hospital in Head Marala area of Sialkot District of Punjab, Pakistan. The terror backers, Pakistan's ISI have facilitated setting up of such launch facilities along IB & LoC in Government buildings to hide/conceal terror infrastructure.
• The facility consists of single-story concrete building having three rooms, one kitchen and one bathroom respectively. Quarters of the near-by hospital in the vicinity of facility is used to accommodate HM cadres. This facility can accommodate approximately 50 cadres at a time and around 20-25 terrorists are usually present at this facility at any point of time overseeing infiltration bids and terrorist operations in India.
• This facility was used for infiltration of HM cadres into Jammu region of J\&K. HM cadres are also given training for terrorist operations and handling of weapons by the senior commanders at this facility.
• Mohammad Irfan Khan aka Irfan Tanda is commander of this HM facility. Irfan Tanda has been involved in carrying out several attacks in Jammu region, especially in capital city of Jammu, particularly series of blasts carried out by Irfan Tanda on 26 Jan 1995 in Maulana Azad Stadium of Jammu leaving 8 persons dead and 50 injured.
• It also raises funds to carry out terror activities in India with active support of Pak Establishment. HM is banned (2002) by Indian government under POTA.

Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala - LeT

• Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala was one of the important Markaz of LeT in PoK and is used for infiltration of LeT terrorists and arms/ammunition into Poonch - Rajauri - Reasi sector.
• The Markaz is situated at outskirts of Barnala town on Kote Jamel road and is at a distance of 500 metres from Barnala town and 200 metre from Kote Jemel road.
• Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala accommodated 100-150 cadres and around 40-50 cadres are usually present at this Markaz, supervising terror activities being organised from this Markaz. This Markaz is also utilized as staging centre for LeT terrorists before infiltrating into Indian territory.
• LeT terror operatives Qasim Gujjar @ Mahrore, Qasim Khanda, Anas Jarar operate from this Markaz and reside in its vicinity. Khubaib aka Mohd Amin Butt also visits this Markaz regularly. Qasim Gujjar and Khubaib have been designated under UA (P) Act by Indian Government.
• Saifullah Sajid Jutt and Abu Qatal Sindhi (killed in March 2025) planned and executed attacks targeting civilians including attack (Jan 01, 2023) in Dhangri, Rajouri killing 07 civilians and attack (June 09, 2024) on bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, killing 09 civilians from this facility of LeT.

Markaz Abbas, Kotli - JeM

• Markaz Saidna Hazrat Abbas Bin Abdul Mutalib (Markaz Abbas) of JeM was located in Mohalla Roli Dhara Bypass Road, Kotli, PoK. This Markaz was located approx. 02 km south-east of Kotli Military Camp.
• This building accommodated around 100-125 JeM cadres and 40 - 50 JeM cadres are always present within premises of this Markaz at any point of time.
• Hafiz Abdul Shakoor aka Qari Zarrar, is head of this Markaz. Qari Zarrar is a Shura member of JeM Council. Qari Zarrar is one of the founding members of JeM and part of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM) terrorists who had left HuM and founded JeM along with Maulana Masood Azhar.
• Qari Zarrar is directly involved in planning and execution of terrorist attacks in J\&K. Qari Zarrar is wanted accused by NIA for attack on Indian Army Camp near Baleeni Bridge, Nagrota, Jammu on Nov 29, 2016. He is also involved in fund raising for JeM through his contacts in Afghanistan.
• Muaz aka Qari Maaz, son of Qari Zarar, formerly associated with JeM's Afghanistan chapter, is person in-charge of a launching detachment in North Kashmir. Muaz returned from Afghanistan during October 2018.

Maskar Raheel Shahid, Hizbul Mujahideen

• Located at approx. 2.5 kms from Mahuli Puli (a bridge on Mahuli Nalla on Mirpur-Kotli road) in Kotli District, POJK, Maskar Rahil Shahid is one of the oldest facilities of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). It is a secluded facility and accessible only via a kuchcha track.
• The camp is located in hilly area and comprises of barracks, four rooms being used for keeping arms & ammunition, office and for residential purpose for terrorists. A new facility for accommodation of cadres and instructors has been constructed in this campus. A special designated electricity line is provided to this camp in this otherwise secluded area. This camp is located in heavy forest cover.
• It can accommodate around 150-200 HM terrorists. Around 25-30 HM terrorists are usually present at this facility supervising terrorist activities being organised at this camp.
• Pertinently, HM terrorists visit this facility particularly for taking arms firing training and specialized physical training. In addition to providing conventional arms / physical training, this Camp specializes in training cadres for BAT/ sniping actions. Terrorist cadres are taken to nearby hilly area for training regarding fighting in hilly area. Survival training is also imparted at this camp.
• HM Head Syed Salahuddin used to himself welcome newly recruited terrorist cadres at this facility and supervise training activities being held here.

Shawai Nalla Camp, Muzaffarabad - LeT

• Shawai Nallah Camp is one of the most important camps of LeT and is used for recruitment, registration and training of LeT cadres. This camp has been functional since early 2000.
• The camp is located near Chelabandi bridge on Muzaffarabad- Neelum Road, Muzaffarabad, PoJK. This camp is also known as Huzaifa Bin Yemen and Bait-ul-Mujahideen camp. This camp includes a firing range, training ground, LeT Madrassa for cadres, and around 40 rooms.
• Shawai Nallah Camp has a large accommodation for LeT cadres along with residences for LeT terrorist commanders & instructors.
• This facility is used as base camp for imparting Daura-e-Aam training, which includes religious indoctrination, physical training, tactical training regarding use of GPS, map reading and arms training for rifles and grenades. LeT head Hafiz Saeed used to welcome new inductees to this camp on their arrival. After completion of initial training at this camp, cadres are sent to other LeT camps for further terrorist training.
• Shawai Nallah Camp is also used from time to time to organize specialized weapons training for LeT cadres. LeT has been using this camp for organizing refresher courses for its already trained commanders/cadres. Pak-ISI also facilitates holding trainings at this camp by providing trainers of Pak Army to provide weapons training to LeT terrorists.