Operation Sindoor: Pakistan terror camp, where Ajmal Kasab and David Headley trained, destroyed

India-Pakistan news, Operation Sindoor: The camp where 26/11 Mumbai terror attack perpetrators trained in Pakistan has been destroyed in Operation Sindoor, officials said on May 7, according to a PTI report.

The nine targets taken down during the operation included four in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). These were identified following intelligence inputs gathered by the Indian Air Force (IAF), the report added.

The terror camps were targetted in precision strikes by India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22.

Operation Sindoor: JeM, LeT, Hizbul camps among those hit

Among the nine target hit included the headquarters of globally banned terror groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), besides Hizbul Mujahideen. Camps linked to LeT, where 26/11 attacker Ajmal Kasab trained, and its Muridke HQ which masterminds David Headley and Tahawwur Rana visited, were also struck.

Among the targets hit in the precise operation were Markaz Subhan Allah at Bahawalpur, Sarjal at Tehra Kalan, Markaz Abbas in Kotli and Syedna Bilal camp in Muzaffarabad (all of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group).

Markaz Taiba at Murdike, Markaz Ahle Hadith at Barnala and Shwawai Nalla camp at Muzaffarabad (all of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba) and Makaz Raheel Shahid in Kotli and Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot (camps and training centres of banned Hizbul Mujahideen) were also struck.

How were Operation Sindoor targets chosen?

• The selection of targets was done based on extensive intelligence, sources told PTI that the JeM camp at Sarjal Tehra Kalan in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab is the main launching pad for the terror group and is operated from a Primary Health Centre.

This camp is looked after by de facto chief Abdul Rauf Asgar. This facility, which is located six kilometres from the Samba sector of Jammu, is used for identifying the places and digging of cross-border tunnels for infiltration of terrorists. This launch pad is also used for the operation of drones for arms and narcotics dropping across the border.

• The LeT's Shawai Nallah camp at Muzaffarabad in PoK is another important target, where even the 26/11 attackers in Mumbai had received training. It was started in 2000. The Pakistani army and ISI have been frequenting this camp, which can accommodate up to 200-250 terrorists at a time, they said.

Terrorists are radicalised and trained at these camps before infiltrating mainly into North Kashmir, they added.

• Further, the LeT's Markaz Taiba at Muridke, dubbed as 'terror factor' was a training centre where recruits were brainwashed, given physical training and a two-week-long indoctrination course. Around 1000 students in different courses get enrolled in this camp, they said. This is where Kasab trained.
• Markaz Subhanallah at Bahawalpur in Pakistan is the main centre of JeM's training and indoctrination and serves as the operational headquarters of the terror group. The planning of the Pulwama terror strike of February 2019 was done at the camp.
• Markaz Abbas camp in Kotli in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir was selected because it is headed by Qari Zarar, a close aide of Asghar, and has a presence of 100-125 Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists. Zarar is wanted by the NIA. This facility is used for infiltration of terrorists from Poonch and Rajouri sectors, and all terror strikes are planned in this camp only, they said.

• Another JeM camp, Markaz Syedna Bilal, located at Muzaffarabad, has a presence of 50-100 terrorists and the Special Services Group of the Pakistan army provides training to the JeM cadres at this facility.
• The Mehmoona Joya terror facility at Sialkot is concealed in a health unit, and it is used for infiltration of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists into the Jammu region, besides being a camp where training, including handling of weapons, is given. The camp, which has a presence of 30 terrorists, is headed by Irfan Tanda, who has been responsible for carrying out attacks in Jammu city.
• Markaz Raheel Shahid at Kotli in PoK camp, which was hit by the IAF, is also used for the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists especially to train them in Border Action Team (BAT) and sniping attacks.
• The ninth target was Markaz Ahle Hadith located at Barnala in Pok, which is used by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, they said, adding this camp has the capacity to accommodate 100-150 cadres.

(With inputs from PTI)