Back in 2019, during the high-stakes Balakot airstrikes, two major terror hubs in Pakistan — Bahawalpur and Kotli — were in India’s crosshairs. But in a strategic move, the Indian forces decided to hold back. Fast forward five years, and those same spots have finally been hit — this time under “Operation Sindoor.”
Bahawalpur and Kotli Were Always on the Radar
During the Balakot strikes — India’s direct response to the Pulwama terror attack — Bahawalpur and Kotli were seriously considered. Why? Because Bahawalpur is home to Jaish-e-Mohammad’s HQ, and Kotli is a known terror hotbed. But hitting them back then would’ve been seen as crossing a line — an all-out act of war. So, the forces played it smart and restrained.
Operation Sindoor Changed the Game
Now, the situation is very different. After the brutal attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22 — where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed — India decided it was time to hit back, hard. And this time, there were no holds barred. The armed forces targeted nine terror sites, including Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muridke — the last one being the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hafiz Saeed’s Jamaat-ud-Dawa.
Lashkar’s Offshoot Claimed the Pahalgam Attack
A group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam massacre. That was the final straw. With the green light from Prime Minister Modi, Indian forces carried out precise, surgical strikes aimed at crippling the terror infrastructure without triggering full-scale war.
No Military Targets — Just Terror Camps
India made it clear: this wasn’t about hitting Pakistan’s military — it was about going after the people responsible for attacks on innocent civilians. The army said it wanted to “hold perpetrators accountable while avoiding unnecessary provocation.” That’s why no Pakistani military installations were touched.
India Hits Nine Sites, Pakistan Admits Only Three
While India confirms hitting nine key terror sites, Pakistan has only acknowledged three — Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad. The rest, they’re likely keeping under wraps to manage the narrative.
PM Modi Was Hands-On
Sources said Prime Minister Modi was fully in the loop, monitoring the entire operation as it unfolded. This wasn’t a one-off decision — it followed a series of diplomatic moves and behind-the-scenes pressure. But when diplomacy didn’t work, India showed it meant business.
Bottom Line
Operation Sindoor wasn’t just a military response — it was a message. Targets like Bahawalpur and Kotli, which were once skipped to avoid escalation, are no longer off-limits when Indian lives are on the line.
