Discussing Operation Sindoor
On Sunday, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), announced that over 100 terrorists had been neutralized in targeted strikes by the armed forces in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Operation Sindoor. This operation specifically targeted individuals involved in the 1999 Indian Airlines flight (IC-814) hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. He emphasized that Operation Sindoor was designed with a clear military objective: to "punish the perpetrators and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack."
"Operation Sindoor was designed with a specific military objective: to hold accountable those responsible for planning and executing acts of terror, as well as to dismantle their terror infrastructure. I won't reiterate India's well-known resolve and zero tolerance for terrorism," Ghai stated during a press conference.
The Indian strikes successfully eliminated "high-value targets," including Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed, who were linked to the hijacking of IC 814, commonly referred to as the Kandahar hijack, as well as the 2019 Pulwama attack that resulted in the deaths of 40 CRPF personnel.
"The strikes on nine terrorist hubs resulted in the deaths of over 100 terrorists, including key figures like Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed, who were involved in the hijacking of IC814 and the Pulwama attack," the DGMO stated.
Ghai also noted that the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy played a significant role in these operations.
"Following the strikes, Pakistan violated the line of control, and their erratic response was evident in the number of civilian areas, villages, and religious sites, including Gurudwaras, that were unfortunately affected, resulting in tragic loss of life. The Indian Air Force was instrumental in targeting some of these camps, while the Indian Navy contributed precision munitions. The Indian Air Force had its assets deployed in the air," he added.
DGMO Ghai stated that the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, along with many other assaults on armed forces and innocent civilians, compelled India to deliver a strong message of its determination against terrorism.
"You are all aware of the brutality and the heinous way in which 26 innocent lives were cut short in Pahalgam on April 22. When we reflect on those tragic scenes and the suffering of the affected families, alongside the numerous recent terrorist attacks on our armed forces and defenseless civilians, it becomes clear that the time has come to reaffirm our nation's resolve," he remarked.
DGMO Ghai stated that following the Indian strikes, several terrorist hubs were either empty or had been abandoned due to fears of "retribution from us." He explained, "This initiated a thorough and detailed examination of the terror landscape across the borders, leading to the identification of various terror camps and training sites. While many locations were identified, we soon recognized that some of these hubs had been vacated in anticipation of our response." (ANI)
