BY Navin Upadhyay
New Delhi/Islamabad, May 7, 2025 – In a masterstroke of strategic deception, India executed ‘Operation Sindoor’ in the early hours of May 7, 2025, striking nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) at 1:44 AM IST. The operation, a retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, was preceded by India’s public announcement of a nationwide civil defense mock drill scheduled for May 7 daytime. This announcement, now revealed as a deliberate ruse, lulled Pakistan into a false sense of security, allowing India to catch its adversary napping with preemptive strikes hours before the drill. Exclusive details of ‘Operation Sindoor’ reveal a meticulously planned operation leveraging intelligence, advanced technology, and psychological warfare to deliver a decisive blow to terrorist infrastructure.
The Deception: Mock Drill as a Cover
On May 5, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced a nationwide civil defense mock drill for May 7, the first since the 1971 India-Pakistan war, to be conducted across 259 locations, including 244 designated civil defense districts. The drill, publicized as a response to heightened tensions post-Pahalgam, involved air raid sirens, blackout simulations, evacuation drills, and camouflaging critical infrastructure like power plants and communication towers. The MHA’s directive, widely covered by Indian media, emphasized public preparedness for war-like emergencies, with participation from civilians, students, NCC cadets, and home guards.
ALSO READ: India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ Kills 17 Terrorists in Pakistan, PoK
Media reports suggested Pakistan interpreted the drill as a signal that India’s military focus was on domestic preparedness, not an imminent offensive. A Pakistani military source, quoted anonymously by Reuters, noted that Islamabad expected any Indian action to follow the drill, assuming India would prioritize civilian readiness first. This miscalculation proved costly. Indian strategists, aware of Pakistan’s surveillance of Indian military movements, used the drill announcement to mask preparations for ‘Operation Sindoor.’ By striking hours before the scheduled drill, at 1:44 AM, India exploited the element of surprise, catching Pakistani defenses unprepared.
At 1:44 am, #PIB confirmed Operation Sindoor via official release—9 terror hubs hit, no #Pak military sites targeted. #India calls it a “measured, focused” response to the #Pahalgam attack.#IndiaPakistanWar #IndiaPakistan #OperationSindoor #Strike #Missile #Attack #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/nvYNJIVmee
— Taaza TV (@taazatv) May 6, 2025
Exclusive Details of ‘Operation Sindoor’
‘Operation Sindoor,’ named after the red vermilion symbolizing resolve in Hindu tradition, was a tri-services operation involving the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The strikes targeted nine terrorist camps: four in Pakistan (Muridke, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, and one undisclosed site) and five in PoK (Muzaffarabad [two sites], Kotli, Gulpur, and Bhimber). The operation was planned after India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) identified these sites as hubs for Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), responsible for the Pahalgam attack.
Planning and Intelligence
- Intelligence Gathering: RAW, in coordination with military intelligence, pinpointed the targets over two weeks, using satellite imagery, drone surveillance, and human intelligence. Muridke’s Markaz-e-Taiba, LeT’s headquarters, and Bahawalpur’s JeM madrassa, led by Masood Azhar, were prioritized for their role in orchestrating attacks, including Pahalgam.
- High-Level Oversight: Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted “full operational freedom” to the armed forces during high-level meetings with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Modi monitored the operation from a New Delhi war room, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval coordinating real-time updates.
- Deceptive Preparations: India’s military conducted visible preparations for the May 7 mock drill, including a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for a two-day air exercise in Rajasthan’s Thar desert starting May 7 evening. This diverted Pakistani attention to the western border, while the actual strikes were launched from northern bases.
India has just launched a missile strike on Pakistan
Pakistan vows to retaliate
It’s a full-on war now.https://t.co/Yye6vBC8Vr pic.twitter.com/kHlsTiYOVw
— Mark. (@Markmaycott2) May 6, 2025
ALSO READ: India Hits Nine Terror Camps in Pakistan, PoK; Tensions Soar
Execution
- Timing and Surprise: The strikes began at 1:44 AM IST, hours before the mock drill’s daytime schedule, exploiting Pakistan’s lowered guard. Indian Air Force Rafale jets, equipped with Scalp cruise missiles and Hammer precision-guided munitions, conducted the attacks from within Indian airspace to avoid violating Pakistani sovereignty directly.
- Targets and Impact: The nine sites were hit with pinpoint accuracy, destroying terrorist training facilities, armories, and command centers. Indian sources claim 17 terrorists were killed, including possibly senior JeM and LeT operatives, with 60 injured. Unverified X posts speculate that key Pahalgam attack planners were among the casualties, though confirmation is pending.
- Technology and Coordination: The operation used advanced loitering munitions and real-time drone feeds for target verification. The Navy provided electronic warfare support to jam Pakistani radar, while Army units along the LoC were on high alert to counter retaliation. All pilots returned safely, refuting Pakistan’s claim of downing three Indian jets.
Psychological Warfare
The mock drill announcement served as a psychological ploy, reinforcing India’s narrative of restraint while preparing for action. By publicizing the drill, India projected a focus on defensive measures, leading Pakistan to underestimate the likelihood of an immediate strike. Posts on X praised the “genius of Indian administration” for using the drill to mislead Pakistan, with one user noting, “Mock drill ka date 7 May bataya to make enemy think the attack would come after the drill.”
Pakistan’s Response: Caught Napping
Pakistan was unprepared for the pre-dawn strikes, with its air defenses reportedly inactive in the targeted areas. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the operation as an “unprovoked and blatant act of war,” claiming civilian casualties, including two children, in Muzaffarabad. Pakistan reported eight deaths and 22 injuries, asserting that six sites were hit with 24 impacts. Sharif suspended diplomatic ties, closed airspace, and ordered military readiness along the LoC and border.
Pakistan’s military retaliated with artillery fire in Bhimber Gali, Poonch-Rajouri, killing three Indian civilians, prompting a “calibrated” Indian response. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif denied the existence of militant camps, claiming civilian targets were hit, a narrative India dismissed. Pakistan’s Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations reported disruptions to commercial air traffic and declared a state of emergency in Punjab province.
The strikes exposed Pakistan’s intelligence failure, as it had anticipated Indian action post-drill based on the MHA’s announcement and India’s Rajasthan air exercise NOTAM. A Pakistani official, quoted by The Times of India, admitted off-record that the timing “caught us off guard,” with forces focused on monitoring the drill preparations.
The deception leveraged historical precedent from the 1971 war, when India used camouflage and civilian drills to mask military moves. The Pahalgam attack, the deadliest on Indian civilians since Pulwama 2019, justified India’s aggressive posture. India’s diplomatic measures—suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, and closing the Wagah border—set the stage for military action.
The operation has escalated tensions, with cross-border shelling ongoing along the LoC. Indian airports in Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, and Dharamshala are closed, and schools in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch remain shut. India’s stock market dropped 1.19%, and Pakistan’s KSE-100 index saw sharp declines.
Exclusive Insights
- Civilian Cover: The mock drill mobilized 244 districts, with Category 1 zones like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai simulating wartime conditions, distracting Pakistani intelligence from military buildup.
- RAW’s Role: The agency’s identification of Muridke and Bahawalpur as LeT and JeM hubs was based on intercepted communications and defector testimonies, ensuring precise targeting.
- Post-Strike Plans: India is preparing for Pakistani retaliation, with additional troop deployments along the LoC and a detailed briefing scheduled at 10 AM IST to present evidence of terrorist activity at the struck sites.
India’s use of the May 7 mock drill announcement as a deception tactic in ‘Operation Sindoor’ demonstrates a blend of strategic foresight and operational precision. By striking hours before the publicized drill, India caught Pakistan off guard, delivering a significant blow to terrorist infrastructure. As tensions soar and Pakistan vows retaliation, the region braces for a volatile period, with the international community urging restraint to prevent a broader conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals.
