The Indian armed forces are fully prepared to counter any potential provocations from Pakistan that could heighten tensions, military officials stated on Wednesday during an official briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’. This operation involved India's targeted strikes on nine terrorist infrastructure sites located in both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK), carried out in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Notably, these were the first Indian military strikes in Pakistan’s Punjab province since 1971.

At the briefing, Indian Army Colonel Sofia Quereshi, alongside IAF Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, announced that Operation Sindoor was initiated in the early hours of May 7. The strikes commenced at 1:05 a.m. and all nine targets were hit within 25 minutes. Colonel Quereshi emphasized that the mission aimed to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam attack, and confirmed that all targeted terrorist camps were successfully destroyed.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Defence released a statement confirming that precision strikes were carried out on nine identified terror camps. These included five sites in PoJK — Sawai Nala and Syedna Belal in Muzaffarabad, Gulpur and Abbas in Kotli, and Barnala in Bhimber. The remaining four were located within Pakistan — Sarjal and Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot, Markaz Taiba in Muridke, and Markaz Subhan in Bahawalpur.

Wing Commander Singh stated that although India had shown significant restraint, the armed forces are fully ready to respond if Pakistan engages in any actions that escalate the situation. She highlighted that precision-guided weapons were used to strike specific buildings, ensuring there was no collateral damage, and stressed that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri explained that Operation Sindoor was both a defensive and preemptive action. Despite diplomatic efforts initiated on April 23, Pakistan failed to act against the terrorist elements responsible for the Pahalgam attack. Intelligence reports indicated that more attacks were being planned, compelling India to take necessary measures to prevent them.

Misri described the strikes as careful, proportionate, and responsible, with the goal of dismantling terrorist infrastructure and preventing future cross-border attacks. He also referenced the April 25 UN Security Council statement, which called for holding the perpetrators and sponsors of the Pahalgam attack accountable, saying India’s actions align with that global stance.