Operation Sindoor LIVE: Followed principle of Lord Hanuman, says Rajnath
Armed forces avenge Pahalgam attack with missile strikes on 9 terror targets in Pak, POK; Modi chairs Cabinet meeting; Centre plans all-party meet on May 8
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (May 7) chaired a meeting of the Union Cabinet, hours after Operation Sindoor was launched to destroy terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). He will also chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS), which will take stock of the evolving situation, PTI said.
Retaliating against the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and PoK, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke.
Like Lord Hanuman: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said later in the day, ‘Last night, our Indian armed forces displayed their valour and bravery, and scripted a new history. Indian armed forces took action with precision, alertness and sensitiveness. The targets we decided were accurately demolished at the right time with precision. Our armed forces also showed sensitivity in ensuring that civilian population is not affected at all. In a way, we can say that Indian jawans showed precision, alertness and humanity. On behalf of the entire country, I congratulate the jawans and officers. I also congratulate PM Modi for supporting the armed forces.”
He added, “We followed the principle followed by Lord Hanuman when he went into Ashok Vatika. Jinh mohi maara, tinh mohi maare. We targeted only those who killed our innocent citizens.”
In the wake of Operation Sindoor, Modi cancelled his significant upcoming tour to Europe. The three-nation visit, which included scheduled stops in Croatia, Norway, and the Netherlands, was being planned for mid-May.
The Union government is holding an all-party meet at 11 am on Thursday, May 8.
What next after India's strikes? Watch The Federal Editor's take
Midnight rampage
The Defence Ministry said in a statement at 1.44 am, "A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed."
It said the actions by the Indian armed forces have been "focused, measured and non-escalatory" in nature and that no Pakistani military facilities have been targeted.
"India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution," it said.
Pak army's shelling
Pakistan army resorted to heavy artillery and mortar shelling targeting forward villages along the LoC after the strikes, leaving at least 12 people dead and many injured. The Indian Army also responded to the shelling, reportedly resulting in many casualties on the enemy side.
Also Watch: Operation Sindoor Explained
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Live Updates
- 7 May 2025 3:42 PM IST
Operation Sindoor: UP declares red alert
Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday declared Red Alert in the state following 'Operation Sindoor' by the armed forces against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), UP DGP said on Wednesday.
In retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes early Wednesday on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base Muridke.
"Red alert has been declared in Uttar Pradesh in view of the action taken by the Indian Army on terrorist hideouts under #OperationSindoor. All field units of @Uppolice have been instructed to coordinate with the defense forces and strengthen the security of important installations," UP DGP Prashant Kumar said from his 'X' handle.
"UP Police is alert, equipped with resources, and fully prepared to ensure the safety of every citizen of the state. Jai Hind!," he added.
- 7 May 2025 3:40 PM IST
Rajasthan on alert after Operation Sindoor
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot were among several leaders who welcomed 'Operation Sindoor' carried out by the Indian Armed Forces in Pakistan on Wednesday.
Sharma, who returned from Gujarat on Tuesday morning, is monitoring the situation in the state following the operation, a state government spokesperson said.
The chief minister is in constant touch with Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant and Director General of Police U R Sahu, and the state government and administration are on high alert, the spokesperson added.
Special instructions have been issued to the administration in the border districts of Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer, which share a border with Pakistan. All schools in these four districts have been shut as a precautionary measure.
The chief secretary appealed to the public to remain calm and not fall for rumours.
- 7 May 2025 3:38 PM IST
12 including 4 children dead due to Pakistani shelling in J&K
At least 12 people, including four children, were killed and 57 others injured as the Pakistan Army resorted to heavy artillery and mortar shelling on forward villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said.
The intense shelling from across the border started shortly after Indian armed forces carried out missile attacks on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to avenge the April 22 terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam that had left 26 civilians dead.
The officials said the Indian Army is responding to the shelling in a befitting manner, resulting in many casualties on the enemy side after several of their posts engaged in firing were destroyed.
The worst-hit in the Pakistani shelling was Poonch district which accounted for all the civilian deaths, the officials said, adding 42 people were also injured and the condition of some of them was stated to be serious.
The indiscriminate shelling by Pakistan created panic among the border residents who were forced to take refuge in underground bunkers or shift to safer places within or outside their villages, the officials said.
The shelling was reported from all along the LoC in Poonch, including Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote, Krishna Ghati, Gulpur, Kerni and even Poonch district headquarters, resulting in damage to dozens of houses and vehicles, they said.
- 7 May 2025 3:33 PM IST
Pakistan PM attends NSC holds after Operation Sindoor
Pakistan’s high-level security huddle on Wednesday discussed the situation arising out of the Indian missile attack.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over the National Security Council (NSC) meeting, which was attended by cabinet ministers, chief ministers, all services chiefs and senior officers.
Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.
Sharif is set to hold a cabinet meeting and share with details with the nation through his address in the parliament,” Hours after the Indian strike, the NSC deliberated upon the grave developments “arising out of India’s unprovoked, cowardly and unlawful act of war,” according to a statement by the government.
The NSC “unequivocally condemned” what it called as the blatant violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, “which manifestly constitutes acts of war under international law,” it called.
- 7 May 2025 3:04 PM IST
Pakistan closes airspace for 48 hours after Operation Sindoor
Pakistan on Wednesday announced a 48-hour closure of its airspace for all air traffic after India carried out a military strike on terror targets in Pakistan and PoK.
Shortly after the military strike by India, Pakistani aviation authorities closed the airspace over Islamabad and Lahore and diverted flights to Karachi. Later, the entire airspace was closed for 48 hours as a precautionary measure.
However, aviation authorities reopened the airspace after an eight-hour closure.
International and domestic flights resumed this morning, with the majority of them departing from the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi or Lahore.
However, airspace in Lahore was closed again for 24 hours after a brief resumption.
A heavy rush was witnessed at the Jinnah Airport in Karachi as delayed international and domestic flights took off or landed there.
A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority said that flights from West Asian countries and other destinations are now fully operational as per schedule.
He added that domestic flights had also become operational until further notice.
The spokesperson said an Uzbekistan Airlines flight from Tashkent had reached New Delhi via Lahore.
