Photos, details: All 9 Pak terror sites hit by Operation Sindoor

In a strong and decisive response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Indian Armed Forces carried out precision strikes on nine terrorist launch pads across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) early Wednesday (May 7). The 'surgical strikes' were conducted to dismantle terror infrastructure and disrupt cross-border militant activities.

The Federal takes a close look at the nine sites pummelled by India.

1. Markaz Subhan Allah, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan

Markaz Subhan Allah is located on NH-5 (Karachi-Torkham Highway) on the outskirts of Bahawalpur at Karachi Mor. Spread over a 15-acre area, this is the main centre of JeM for training and indoctrination of youth. It serves as the operational headquarters of JeM and is associated with terrorist planning, including Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019. Perpetrators of Pulwama attack were trained at this camp. The complex has residences of JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, de facto chief of JeM Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar and other family members. Masood Azhar remains the de jure chief of JeM and is under the protective custody of Pakistan authorities at an undisclosed location in Islamabad/Rawalpindi while the actual operations of JeM are carried out by Asghar.

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JeM conducts regular arms, physical, and religious training for its cadres at Markaz Subhan Allah. The complex also houses more than 600 cadres, in addition to the residences of key JeM functionaries. Maulana Rafiqullah, a former religious trainer at Markaz Usman-o-Ali, has been chief instructor at this Markaz since mid-2022.

Markaz Subhan Allah was built with the help of both the provincial Punjab and federal governments of Pakistan, apart from funds raised by JeM from some Gulf-African countries, and the UK. It has been operational since 2015.

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In March 2018, a gymnasium was established inside the Markaz. It also has a swimming pool since July 2018 for imparting rigorous swimming and deep-water diving courses for JeM cadres. JeM also imparts six-day archery training to its cadres and Shura members at the Markaz. In 2019, a new 'Al Hijama' Centre (Treatment by use of Pressure Cupping) was established inside the Markaz. Horse stables and riding ground were built in May 2022.

On November 30, 2024, Masood Azhar addressed JeM cadres at Markaz after a gap of two years. Anti-India rhetoric, including taking revenge for Babri Masjid demolition reiterated during the address. The event was attended by Maulana Talha Saif (younger brother of Masood Azhar), Mohd. Abdullah Bin Masood (his son) and other JeM operatives. It is located at an aerial distance of 100.4 km (approximate) from the International Border opposite Khajuwala, Bikaner in Rajasthan.

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JeM commanders associated with their Afghan operations also visit Markaz for terror planning and meetings with senior JeM functionaries. Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar arranges for the consignments of weapons, including recently acquired M4 Rifles left by NATO forces in Afghanistan, through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-based smugglers from this facility.

The most important fidayeen (suicide-attackers), including close relatives of Masood Azhar, such as his nephews Talha Rasheed, Usman, Umar and Mohammad Ismail alias Lambu, were indoctrinated for fidayeen attacks at this facility and sent to Balakot for arms training.

2. LeT headquarters, Muridke, Punjab

Known as Markaz Taiba, it was established in 2000, in Nangal Sahdan village of Muridke, which comes under Sheikhupura district. The complex is spread across 82 acres, comprises a madrassa, market, residential area for terror entities, sports facility, a fish farm and agricultural tracts. The complex has arms and physical training facilities, as well as holds classes for radicalisation and indoctrination for terror recruits from both within Pakistan and abroad.

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There is a Sufa Academy, located in the Markaz, catering to religious indoctrination for male cadres and a separate Sufa education centre for women. This Markaz serves as a mushrooming ground for the radicalisation of students to motivate them to join armed jihad. It can be compared to a terror factory. This Markaz enrols around 1,000 students in different courses annually thereby highlighting the role of this Markaz in churning out terror entities for LeT annually.

Osama Bin Laden had financed Rs 10 million for construction of a mosque and guest house within the Markaz Taiba complex in 2000.

At the behest of Pakistan’s ISI, all the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Ajmal Kasab, were imparted ‘Daura-e-Ribbat’ (intelligence training) at this facility. David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, the prime conspirators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, had visited Muridke along with Abdul Rehman Sayed alias Pasha, Haroon and Khurram (co-conspirators) on the instructions of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

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LeT ideologues Amir Hamza, Abdul Rehman Abid and Zafar Iqbal reside in the premises of this Markaz. LeT commanders Khubaib, Isa and Qasim frequently visit this Markaz.

Other than these ideologues, Hafiz Saeed and other operatives of LeT, including Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi, have houses in this facility. They regularly visit to supervise the radicalisation activities being conducted from this Markaz.

Despite the global ban on LeT, Pakistan has allowed the organisation and its leaders to go about their terrorist activities and organisation to flourish.

It organised Itikaf (an Islamic practice consisting of a period of staying in a mosque, last 10 days of Ramadan) was organised by Markaz Umm Al-Qurah, Markaz Taiba during Ramzan this year. Friday sermon was organised (March 21, 2025) by Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), political front of LeT, at Jamia Markaz Umm Al-Qurah, Markaz Taiba. Maulana Amir Hamza (central Leader LeT/JuD/PMML) delivered the sermon, encouraging participants to fight for jihad. The funeral prayer of Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, Naib Amir of LeT was offered (December 27, 2024) during Maghrib prayer at Markaz Taiba. The funeral prayers were led by Hafiz Talha Saeed, son of Hafiz Saeed, who is also vice-president of PMML.

On December 1, 2024, a ‘Khatm-e-Nabuawt & Solidarity Palestine Conference’ was organised by the ‘Ulema wa Masaikh Wing’ of LeT, and it was attended by senior leaders of Lashkar. During their address, the speakers criticised Israel, India and the US for targeting Muslims and justified jihad in Palestine and Kashmir.

3. Sarjal facility of Jaish-e-Mohammad, Shakargarh, District Narowal, Punjab

Sarjal facility is the main launching site of JeM for infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in the Shakargarh tehsil of Narowal district. This facility is located inside the premises of a Primary Health Centre in Tehra Kalan village of Sarjal area so as to conceal its real purpose. A number of other facilities of JeM and HM in Pakistan operate from Basic Health Units or Primary Health Centres, facilitated by the ISI. Sarjal camp is just six kilometres from international border (IB) across Samba sector of Jammu. This facility serves as the base for the digging of cross-border tunnels for the infiltration of terrorists. Pakistan ISI and JeM have developed a network of underground tunnels in Shakargarh area which is used for infiltration of JeM cadres into India. All the tunnels which have been dug across the IB in Arnia-Jammu Sector are the handiwork of the handlers from this facility.

Sarjal facility also serves as the launching base for drones by which arms, ammunition or narcotics and warlike stores are dropped into Indian territory. JeM has also been planning aerially send its operatives in India using drones from this facility. This facility has a control room also, in which the HF radio receivers and other communication facilities are used by the terrorists.

The complex consists of single-storey buildings, wherein around half a dozen rooms near the first entrance are used by doctors and staff members of PHC for health check-ups of the public. The two quarters near the parking and a hall are used by JeM for their operational commanders and cadres. Around two dozen terrorists usually remain stationed at this JeM facility to supervise infiltration attempts and terrorist activities of infiltrated terrorists in India.

JeM terrorist commanders Mohammad Adnan Ali alias Doctor and Kashif Jan regularly visit this facility. In May 2014, on instructions of the ISI, Adnan had imparted para-glider training to Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) operative Ramandeep Singh alias Goldy in Mae-Sot, Thailand. The training was conducted under the supervision of Adnan by Jagtar Singh Tara (later deported to India) and his associates Jaswinder Singh Jassa and Mohammad Umar Gondal.

Use of tunnels for infiltration, hospital infrastructure and para-gliders for terror attacks appears to be copied or inspired from tactics used by Hamas. There are multiple inputs about regular interactions of JeM terrorists with Hamas leaders.

Jan was the main JeM handler and conspirator who had planned and executed 2016 Pathankot airbase attack. Shahid Latif (killed in 2023) was the launching commander of JeM who had motivated and launched terrorists to carry out the airbase attack. The JeM terrorists who were neutralised in Nagrota encounter of January 2020 infiltrated from this facility.

4. Mehmoona Joya facility of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) at Sialkot

It is located near Kotli Bhutta Government Hospital in Head Marala area of Sialkot district. This facility is 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 alias Irfan Tanda is the commander of this HM facility. Tanda has been involved in carrying out several attacks in Jammu, particularly a series of blasts on 26 January 1995 at Maulana Azad Stadium of Jammu that left eight persons dead and 50 injured. The then Governor KV Krishna Rao narrowly escaped the attack.

The facility consists of a single-storey concrete building with three rooms, one kitchen, and one bathroom. Quarters of the nearby hospital is used to accommodate HM cadres. This facility can accommodate approximately 50 cadres at a time, and around 20 to 25 terrorists are usually present at this facility at any given time, overseeing infiltration bids and terrorist operations in India.

5. Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala, Lashkar camp, Bhimber district, PoJK

Markaz Ahle Hadith at Barnala is one of the important Markazs of LeT in PoJK and is used for infiltrating terrorists, arms, and ammunition into the Poonch—Rajauri—Reasi sector. The Markaz is situated on the outskirts of Barnala town on Kote Jamel road, 500 metres from Barnala town and 200 metres from Kote Jemel road. It can accommodate 100 to 150 cadres, and around 40 to 50 cadres are usually present at this Markaz, supervising terror activities.

LeT operatives Qasim Gujjar alias Mahrore, Qasim Khanda, Anas Jarar operate from this Markaz and reside in its vicinity. Another key operative Saifullah Sajid Jutt and Abu Qatal Sindhi (killed in March 2025) planned and executed attacks on civilians in Dhangri, Rajouri (January 1, 2023) and the June 9, 2024 attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, killing nine people.

6. Markaz Abbas, Kotli

JeM’s Markaz Abbas is located in Mohalla Roli Dhara bypass road in Kotli of PoJK. This Markaz is located around 2 kilometres south-east of Kotli Military Camp. This building can accommodate around 100-125 JeM cadres and 40-50 JeM cadres are always present within the premises of this Markaz at any point in time. Hafiz Abdul Shakoor alias Qari Zarrar is the head of this Markaz. Zarrar is a Shura member of JeM Council. Zarrar is one of the founding members of JeM and was part of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) terrorists who had left HuM and founded JeM along with Masood Azhar. Zarrar lives in a three-storey building located adjacent to Markaz Abbas.

Zarrar is wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for an attack on the Indian Army camp near Baleeni Bridge in Nagrota of Jammu on November 29, 2016. He is also involved in fundraising for JeM through his contacts in Afghanistan. His son Qari Maaz also stays there, and he too is involved in JeM activities. Maaz was associated with JeM's Afghanistan chapter earlier and is now in-charge of a launching detachment in North Kashmir. Maaz returned from Afghanistan in October 2018.

7. Maskar Raheel Shahid, Hizbul-Mujahideen Kotli, PoJK

Maskar Raheel 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 a hilly area and comprises barracks, four rooms being used for keeping arms and ammunition, an office and for residential purposes for terrorists. A new facility for the 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. HM head Syed Salahuddin himself used to welcome newly recruited cadres at this facility and supervise training activities being held at Maskar Raheel Shahid.

At present, the camp is being supervised by one Abu Maaz, who, along with Abdul Rehman imparts training, especially to HM terrorists who participate in border actions targeting Indian security forces deployed at the border. Fresh construction activities have been noticed in this camp with an aim to accommodate more cadres.

8. Shawai Nallah camp of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muzaffarabad, PoJK

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 the early 2000. The camp is located near Chelabandi bridge on Muzaffarabad-Neelum Road in Muzaffarabad of 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.

LeT head Hafiz Saeed used to welcome new inductees to this camp upon their arrival. After completion of initial training at this camp, cadres are sent to other LeT camps for further terrorist training. Shawai Nallah camp can accommodate 200-250 cadres, and around 50-100 cadres are usually present at this camp undergoing various terror activities being organised at this camp.

Ajmal Kasab and other terrorists involved in 26/11 had undergone training in this camp. LeT commander, Abu Dujana is in-charge of the camp and is assisted by Qamar Bhai, who looks after training schedules for cadres. There had been a resurgence in activities in this camp since 2023 and construction work was going on to increase the capacity of this camp to accommodate more LeT cadres for training.

9. Syedna Bilal Markaz Jaish, Muzaffarabad, PoJK

Syedna Bilal Masjid is the main centre of JeM in PoJK, located opposite Red Fort, Muzaffarabad. JeM’s office cum transit camp is located on the first floor adjacent to the building of Syedna Bilal Masjid.

This facility is used as a transit camp for JeM terrorists prior to their launching into J&K. At any point in time 50-100 cadres reside in this facility. Additionally, training by Pakistani Special Forces, SSG, is imparted here, as indicated from the photographs retrieved from phones of killed JeM terrorists.

JeM operational commander and JeM head of PoJK, Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri is in-charge of the facility. Abdullah Jehadi alias Abdullah Kashmiri and Aashiq Nengroo (Indian fugitive) also operate from this centre. Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri and Abdullah Jehadi are wanted accused in the Nagrota attack of 2016. Kashmiri had earlier participated in the Afghan war as well and was part of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) before joining JeM in 2000 on its formation. Kashmiri is very close to Masood Azhar and is one of the most prominent operational commanders of JeM.

Nengroo is a wanted accused in the Pulwama attack of 2019 in which 40 CRPF personnel were martyred. He is absconding and has possibly exfiltrated and taken shelter under the patronage of the ISI and JeM in Pakistan. On December 7, 2023, Nengroo was involved in drone dropping of a weapons consignment consisting of one AK47, two AK magazines and five grenades in Sopore area for further delivery in South Kashmir. Nengroo is carrying out these terror operations in India from his base in Syedna Bilal facility of JeM.