India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 6, 2025, as a focused and measured military response to the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that occurred on April 22, 2025, in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pahalgam attack, in which 26 civilians-mostly tourists including newlywed couples-were massacred by militants linked to Pakistan-based terrorist groups, was described by the Indian government as "barbaric" and the deadliest civilian attack in India since 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Watch: It was focused and precise: India on strikes on terror targets in Pakistan

Under Operation Sindoor, Indian armed forces conducted precision missile strikes targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). The operation was carried out at 1:44 am and involved the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force using advanced weaponry including SCALP missiles, HAMMER bombs, and loitering munitions (kamikaze drones) to strike terror camps and launchpads used by Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen-groups responsible for orchestrating attacks against India.

The Indian Army emphasized that the strikes were carefully planned to avoid Pakistani military installations, reflecting considerable restraint and a non-escalatory approach. No civilian, economic, or military targets in Pakistan were hit, only known terror camps were targeted. This was India's first tri-services military operation since the 1971 war with Pakistan.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitored the operation and had earlier granted the armed forces full operational freedom to determine the timing, targets, and mode of response. The government reaffirmed its commitment to hold accountable those responsible for the Pahalgam attack, which killed 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the success of the operation as a victory for India.

Following the strikes, Pakistan’s military spokesperson confirmed the missile strikes on Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad and vowed retaliation at a time and place of its choosing. Pakistan’s air force jets were reported airborne in response, escalating tensions along the Line of Control. The Indian Army reported that Pakistan retaliated with artillery shelling on civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, causing casualties, to which India responded proportionately.

LIVE: Operation Sindoor Updates

1:44 AM IST: Indian Armed Forces launched 24 precision missile strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including Muridke and Bahawalpur, strongholds of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Over 70 terrorists were killed and more than 60 wounded, significantly degrading the operational capability of these outfits. The strikes were a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, including 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen.
2:00 AM IST: The Ministry of Defence confirmed the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure "from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed." The operation was carefully executed to avoid Pakistani military facilities, demonstrating considerable restraint.
3:00 AM IST: Pakistan confirmed missile strikes at nine locations, including Kotli, Bahawalpur, and Muzaffarabad, reporting at least nine civilian deaths and 38 injuries. Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft, though India has not confirmed this.
4:00 AM IST: Pakistan retaliated with artillery shelling and firing across the Line of Control and International Border, resulting in ten civilian deaths, including two children, and multiple injuries in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army responded proportionately to these provocations.
7:30 AM IST: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan to brief her on Operation Sindoor. The strikes targeted nine terror sites, including headquarters and training centers of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
9:00 AM IST: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with the three service chiefs to review the operation’s outcomes. The Cabinet Committee on Security convened to assess the evolving security situation.
10:00 AM IST: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, along with officers Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, held a press briefing describing Operation Sindoor as a "measured and proportionate" response. The briefing was notably led by women officers, symbolizing strength and sacrifice.
11:00 AM IST: The Indian Embassy in the United States issued a statement affirming credible evidence of Pakistan-based terrorist involvement in the Pahalgam attack and justified Operation Sindoor as a responsible, non-escalatory response targeting only terror camps.
12:30 PM IST: Local authorities in Jammu and Kashmir heightened security measures and imposed restrictions in sensitive border areas to prevent civilian casualties amid ongoing cross-border tensions.
2:00 PM IST: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval briefed counterparts from several countries, including the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Japan, Russia, China, and France, emphasizing that India’s actions were measured, non-escalatory, and focused solely on terror infrastructure.
3:15 PM IST: Defence sources confirmed JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar claimed that 10 members of his family and four aides were killed in the strikes, highlighting the significant impact on terrorist leadership.

The situation remains tense with heightened military alert on both sides. India has reiterated its commitment to pursue those responsible for the Pahalgam attack while maintaining restraint to avoid escalation. Further updates will follow as the situation develops.